BRITISH EDUCATION BRITISH EDUCATION SYSTEMSYSTEM

Chapter 9Chapter 9

PurposePurpose

Teach basics – reading, writing, Teach basics – reading, writing, arithmeticarithmetic

Socialize the children-taught rules Socialize the children-taught rules and values needed to become good and values needed to become good citizenscitizens

State heavily involved –when, where, State heavily involved –when, where, how and what children taughthow and what children taught

Controversial DecisionsControversial Decisions

Should children be punished physically?Should children be punished physically?

Currently corporal punishment banned in Currently corporal punishment banned in UKUK

• What sort of English should students What sort of English should students learn?learn?

Should students be forced to speak in a Should students be forced to speak in a standardized way rather than regional standardized way rather than regional accents? accents?

Controversy-not just about Controversy-not just about educationeducation

Britain is society where social class very Britain is society where social class very importantimportant

Educational policy can determine if class Educational policy can determine if class inequality can be erased or continuedinequality can be erased or continued

Continued debate over how “EQUAL” educational Continued debate over how “EQUAL” educational opportunity should beopportunity should be

Important relationship between education and Important relationship between education and social classsocial class

51% working class 49% middle class but 51% working class 49% middle class but opportunities very different between classesopportunities very different between classes

School Tie is Mark of Social ClassSchool Tie is Mark of Social Class

Men wear school ties as belts – Men wear school ties as belts – proudly displaying attendance at proudly displaying attendance at certain schoolcertain school

Attendance at certain school (like Attendance at certain school (like Oxford or Cambridge) is single best Oxford or Cambridge) is single best way to guarantee successful careerway to guarantee successful career

Where educated is very important for Where educated is very important for your futureyour future

Oxford University

Oxford Campus

Oxford by Night

Students at Cambridge

Kings Chapel at Cambridge

HISTORYHISTORY

Today British education run by Today British education run by governmentgovernment

Gvt. provides money, oversees standards Gvt. provides money, oversees standards & tries for all quality ed.& tries for all quality ed.

Historically education was voluntary & set Historically education was voluntary & set up by Churchesup by Churches

Church influence still strong today with Church influence still strong today with daily prayers & hymn singingdaily prayers & hymn singing

WWll moved children to countrysideWWll moved children to countryside After WWll restructured 1944 Education After WWll restructured 1944 Education

Act-entry to higher ed. Available for all Act-entry to higher ed. Available for all based on abilities not classbased on abilities not class

HISTORY CONTINUEDHISTORY CONTINUED

All students given right to free secondary All students given right to free secondary & good education& good education

1960’s-”Comprehensive schools” 1960’s-”Comprehensive schools” introduced-most academically capable introduced-most academically capable sent to prepare Univ. while less capable sent to prepare Univ. while less capable vocational schoolsvocational schools

1989-National Curriculum-all must 1989-National Curriculum-all must study:english, mathematics, science, study:english, mathematics, science, religious ed. , history, geography, religious ed. , history, geography, technology, music, art, p.e. & a modern technology, music, art, p.e. & a modern foreign language. –pass National tests foreign language. –pass National tests

PRESENT ED. SYSTEMPRESENT ED. SYSTEM COMPULSORY 5-15 (4-15 in NI)COMPULSORY 5-15 (4-15 in NI) State (free) or privateState (free) or private Gov. sometimes assist church schoolsGov. sometimes assist church schools League tables school rankingsLeague tables school rankings Usually go near home but may go a distance for better Usually go near home but may go a distance for better

education education 5-11 primary 11-19 secondary5-11 primary 11-19 secondary 11+ test if pass educational emphasis on advanced 11+ test if pass educational emphasis on advanced

AcademicsAcademics GCSE General certificate of secondary ed. Which shows GCSE General certificate of secondary ed. Which shows

progress/course pursueprogress/course pursue 16 quit or exams for university or voc. Training16 quit or exams for university or voc. Training Every 16 & 17 guaranteed full-time ed or trainingEvery 16 & 17 guaranteed full-time ed or training

HIGHER EDUCATIONHIGHER EDUCATION

Most Univ. public paid by gov.Most Univ. public paid by gov. Univ. of Buckingham exception (priv)Univ. of Buckingham exception (priv) Long history back to 12 and 13Long history back to 12 and 13thth cent cent Scottish univ. St. Andrews, Glasgow, Scottish univ. St. Andrews, Glasgow,

Edinburgh and Aberdeen 14 & 15Edinburgh and Aberdeen 14 & 15thth c. c. Other univ. 19Other univ. 19thth and 20 and 20thth centuries centuries Large growth in 1960’sLarge growth in 1960’s 1992 polytechs and others-univ. 1992 polytechs and others-univ.

Higher Education ContinuedHigher Education Continued 1991- 353,000 students in universities 1991- 353,000 students in universities

87,000 from overseas(25,000 some 87,000 from overseas(25,000 some funding)funding)

2000-1in 3 attend univ.2000-1in 3 attend univ. The Open University-No requirements to The Open University-No requirements to

register, take courses thru textbooks, TV, register, take courses thru textbooks, TV, radio, correspondence, videos, residential radio, correspondence, videos, residential schools and a network study centersschools and a network study centers

TOU-all walks of life-coal miners to TOU-all walks of life-coal miners to housewifeshousewifes

TOU inspired the founding of China’s TV TOU inspired the founding of China’s TV and Radio University. BA, BS, MA, PHd and Radio University. BA, BS, MA, PHd