Secondary modern schools were established in the United Kingdom in the 1940s as part of the Butler Education Act. They were designed to provide education for students who did not pass the 11-plus exam, which determined admission to grammar schools. These schools focused on practical skills and vocational training, catering to students aged 11 to 15 or 16. The aim was to prepare them for the workforce or further education in technical fields, offering a more hands-on approach compared to the academic focus of grammar schools.