Education and Cultural Identity in the United Kingdom

Abstract

The United Kingdom is a multinational state with a single monarchy and parliament and shared language, but four constituent parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The term ‘British’, which is often used as an adjectival synonym, is somewhat anomalous, for the United Kingdom is composed of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Each of these four parts has distinctive cultural, linguistic, religious and national identities. Northern Ireland is further divided along sectarian, religious and political lines, with a substantial minority who would welcome the creation of a single state for Ireland once more. The four parts have distinctive educational traditions, and three boast separate educational systems. This results from the different ways in which each country, historically, was incorporated into the United Kingdom.

From an original article written with Richard Aldrich.