Chapter FiveChapter FiveEducation

British Education SystemBritish Education System

The British education system was arranged by the Education Act in 1944 in three progressive stages: primary education, secondary education and further education.

It aims to develop fully the abilities of individuals, both young and old, for their own benefit and that of society as a whole.

British Education SystemBritish Education System

Compulsory schooling takes place between the ages of 5 and 16. Some provision is made for children under school age, and many pupils remain at school beyond the minimum leaving age.

Post- school education, mainly at universities and institutions of further and higher education, is organized flexibly to provide a wide range of opportunities for academic and vocational education and continuing study throughout life.

Education Before Age 16Education Before Age 16

Education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 - 16.

About 94 per cent of pupils in the UK receive free education from public funds, while 6 per cent attend independent fee paying schools.

Education Before Age 16Education Before Age 16

Children's education in England is normally divided into two separate stages.

They begin with primary education at the age of five (4 in Northern Ireland )and this usually lasts until they are eleven.

Education Before Age 16Education Before Age 16

In addition, about half of 3- and 4-year-olds are enrolled in specialized nursery schools or in nursery classes at primary schools

Then they move to secondary school, there they stay until they reach sixteen, seventeen or eighteen years of age.

The UniformThe Uniform

Most school in England require children to wear a school uniform.

BoysLong grey or black trousers (shorts may be worn in the Summer)White ShirtSchool tie (optional in most primary schools)Jumper or sweater with the school logo on. The colour is the choice of the schools.Black shoes

GirlsAs above.Girls may wear skirts During the summer term girls often wear summer school dresses.

The School YearThe School Year

The school year is 39 weeks long and is divided into six terms:

September to October October to December January to February February to March April to May June to July

School Terms

Term 1 1/9/05 to 21/10/05 7 weeks 2 days

Term 2 31/10/05 to 16/12/05 7 weeks

Term 3 3/1/06 to 10/2/06 5 weeks 4 days

Term 4 20/2/06 to 31/3/06 6 weeks

Term 5 19/4/06 to 26/5/06 5 weeks 2 days

Term 6 5/6/06 to 25/7/06 7 weeks 2 days

Total days 195 days

School HolidaysSchool Holidays The main school holidays are: Christmas- 2 weeks Spring (Easter) - 2 weeks Summer - 6 weeks There are also one week holidays: end of October mid February end of May

National CurriculumNational Curriculum

National Curriculum has made it compulsory for three core subjects—English, mathematics and science and seven other foundation subjects—technology (including design), history, geography, music, art, physical education and a modern foreign language—to be included in the curricula of all pupils.

The Different Types of SchoolsThe Different Types of Schools

The main categories of school are: local authority maintained schools (State Schoo

ls)Free to all children between the ages of 5 - 16

Independent school (Private/Public Schools)Parents pay for their children's' education.

State SchoolsState Schools

In the UK 93% of the children in England and Wales go to "state schools". State schools are non fee-paying, funded from taxes and most are organized by Local Authorities (LA).

Primary Schools (5 - 11 year olds)Primary Schools (5 - 11 year olds)

In the UK, the first level of education is known as primary education. These are almost always mixed sex, and usually located close to the child's home. Children tend to be with the same group throughout the day, and one teacher has responsibility for most of the work they do.

Secondary SchoolsSecondary Schools (11 - 16 year olds (11 - 16 year olds)

Most children transfer at the age of 11 - usually to their nearest secondary school, though the law allows parents in England and Wales to express preferences for other schools too. A place has to be offered at the parents' preferred school unless the school has more applicants than places; in that case it will admit the children who have the highest priority under its published admission arrangements which can vary a little in different places.

Most secondary schools cater for both sexes. They tend to be much larger than primary schools.

Comprehensive SchoolsComprehensive Schools

Comprehensive schools are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today. Such schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education. Pupils can studying everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking.

Grammar SchoolGrammar School

It is a type of secondary schools in Britain. Grammar schools selected children at age 11, through an examination called “the 11-plus”. Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools. These schools lay stress on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and expect many of their pupils to go on universities.

Independent SchoolsIndependent Schools

Independent schools are commonly called public schools which receive their funding through the private sector and tuition rate, with some government assistance. Independent schools are not part of national education system, but the quality of instruction and standards are maintained through visits from Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools. These schools are restricted to the students whose parents are comparatively rich.

Eton CollegeEton College 伊顿公学伊顿公学

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Education Beyond Age 16Education Beyond Age 16

At the age of 16, prior to leaving school, students are tested in various subjects to earn a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE).

All students are tested in mathematics, English literature, English composition, chemistry, biology, physics, history or the Classics, one modern language, and one other subject, such as art or computer studies.

After completing the GCSE, some students leave school, others go onto technical college, while others continue at high school for two more years and take a further set of standardized exams, known as A levels, in three or four subjects. These exams determine whether a student is eligible for university.

Further Education

Types of schools: University Polytechnic Open University

UniversityUniversity

Britain has more than 90 universities. The foremost universities are the University of Oxford

and the University of Cambridge. The term Oxbridge is used to refer to both schools as a single entity, much as Americans would use the term Ivy League.

London has its own great schools, the enormous University of London and its world-famous college, the London School of Economics.

Universities in Britain enjoy complete academic freedom, choosing their own staff and deciding which students to admit, what and how to teach, and which degree to award.

Polytechnic

Polytechnics are schools dedicated to the sciences and applied technology.

Polytechnics offer a range of courses, some of them vocational or technical, at or below the bachelor’s degree level.

An education act in 1992 changed the status of these colleges to universities.

Open University

Open university was founded in 1969 in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

It offers extension courses taught through correspondence, television and radio programs, and videocassettes.

It also sponsors local study centers for students meeting their tutors when they have problems and residential summer schools.

The purpose of the Open University is to reach people who may not ordinarily be qualified for university study.