The UK education system is a sprawling beast—layered, complex, and often baffling. But where did it all begin? If we follow the trail of historical breadcrumbs far enough, we might find ourselves in a surprising place: a 16th-century German tavern, with Martin Luther raising a tankard of Wittenberg beer, unknowingly brewing up the foundations of modern education.

Intrigued? Strap in for a whistle-stop tour through 500 years of history in 5 minutes…

Wittenberg Beer: Brewing Reformation

Before the Reformation, education in Europe was a niche affair mostly reserved for the clergy, monks, and the aristocracy. Then along came Martin Luther with a radical idea: he didn't think everything taught in the Catholic Church tradition was in line with the Bible. The renegade monk pinned his 95 Theses to a church door in Wittenberg in 1517, kick-starting the Protestant Reformation. But where were his 95 theses brewed? Probably in a pint of German beer, for which he was well known to have a fondness. Luther himself makes a nod to his preferred beverage in this famous quote: "I simply taught, preached, and wrote God's Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything."

Luther’s insistence on the importance of ‘the Word’ points to how crucial it was for the reformers that everyone should have access to this text for themselves. Which brings us neatly up to…

The Printing Press: Viral Ideas, 16th Century Style

With Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press in 1440 (think ‘the internet’), Martin Luther’s writings - particularly his German Bible - were well timed to take the nascent publishing world by storm (think TikTok). One of the first real “bestsellers”, Luther’s German Bible was a phenomenon. Suddenly, the common man could own a copy and read it—well, own it anyway.

The printing press took Luther’s theological ideas beyond Germany’s borders, reaching England...

The Stage is Set: Henry VIII’s Opportunistic Embrace

While Luther’s Reformation shook Germany, Henry VIII’s split from Rome in 1534 gave reformed theology an open door in England. Henry’s motivations may have been political rather than theological—the Brexit of his day—but his megalomania gave state sanction to reformist ideas. In particular: that common people might actually be able to read their own Bibles.

By the 16th and 17th centuries, grammar schools began appearing across England, initially focused on teaching Latin and preparing boys for (amongst other things) the clergy. Although primarily for the sons of wealthier families who could afford the fees, subsidised school places for talented boys from poorer backgrounds began to emerge. The seeds for a broader, more inclusive education system were being sown.

The Enlightenment: Triumph of Reason

The Reformation’s emphasis on reading and understanding God’s Word planted the seeds for a broader intellectual awakening. By the 17th and 18th centuries, the Enlightenment had arrived, promoting reason, science, and the pursuit of knowledge as central to human progress. Education became a key tool in this movement, as reformers and thinkers believed that understanding—rooted in reason—superseded blind faith.

This period saw the growth of charity schools and informal education initiatives like dame schools, which began to educate larger portions of the population, albeit unevenly. While still far from universal, the idea that education was a public good was beginning to take hold, setting the stage for the more structured reforms of the 19th century.

Literacy: A Tool for Industry

By the 19th century, the industrial revolution demanded a more educated workforce. The Elementary Education Act of 1870 (commonly known as Forster’s Act) established the framework for state-funded elementary schools in England and Wales. For the first time, schooling was accessible to a significant portion of the population. Literacy had evolved from a theological necessity to a practical one—essential for a skilled industrial workforce.

Education: A Moral Imperative

In 1944, the Education Act (or Butler Act) introduced free and compulsory secondary education for all, creating the system we recognise today. Education was no longer just a means to an end—whether theological understanding or industrial skill—but a moral imperative, a cornerstone of civilised society.

...And Then We Invented Ofsted

So, does the UK education system really owe its existence to Martin Luther and his beer-fuelled brainstorming sessions? Well, ish. Without the Reformation, there might not have been a push for mass literacy. Without mass literacy, there wouldn’t have been the demand for widespread schooling. And without widespread schooling, Ofsted might never have existed (not every story has a happy ending).

The next time you’re scratching your head over what Ofqual actually does or why GDPR means you can only write alternate letters of a child's name on the whiteboard, spare a thought for Luther. His ideas—and perhaps his pint of Wittenberg’s finest—sparked a chain reaction that led to where we are today.

And if you’re struggling to explain trigonometry to a teenager, maybe you should take a leaf out of Luther’s book: grab a pint, and let the ideas flow.