 Bedford previously operated a three-tier education system, which was arranged into lower, middle and upper schools, as recommended in the Plowden Report of 1967.The arrangement was put to the vote in 2006 with a view to moving to the two-tier model, but was rejected.On 17 November 2009, borough councillors voted 19 to 17 in favour of a two tier system, which would then be phased in.