EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN

INTRODUCTION

• by law education compulsory until 16 years old

• children can be educated at home• free for all children from 5 to 16 • all government-run schools, follow the

same National Curriculum = set plans• school system can differ in Scotland,

Northern Ireland and Wales• this presentation will focus on

England

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE• primary school at the age of four or five• reception year for four year olds• leave primary education at the age of

11, moving on to secondary school (High school) 

• school from Monday to Friday, from about 08:55 - 15:30

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS• academic year runs from September to July• 39 weeks long, divided into six terms,

separated by holidays• main School holidays are:

Christmas - 2 weeks Spring - 2 weeks Summer (end of July and the whole of August) - 6 weeks

• There are also one week holidays:end of Octobermid Februaryend of May

SYSTEM OF EDUCATION IN ENGLAND Education stages:• Nursery Schools = 3-4 years old • Primary Schools = 5-11 years old

o Reception – foundation yearo Infants – year 1 and 2o Juniors – year 3 to 6

• Secondary Schools = 12- 16 (18) years old

• Further education

PRIMARY SCHOOLS (5-11 year olds)

• almost always mixed sex, usually located close to the child's home

• one teacher has responsibility for most of the work

• parents strongly encouraged to help their children

• small amounts of homework are set to all children in most schools

SECONDARY SCHOOLS (11 – 16 year olds)

• Most children at the age of 11Comprehensive schools• nearly 88 per cent of secondary

school pupils in England • children of all abilities, a wide

range of secondary education for children from 11 to 16 or 18.

Grammar Schools• are selective, offer

academically oriented general education.

• Entrance based on a test of ability, usually at 11.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS – fee paying schools

• 7% go to independent schools (also known as private schools and public schools)

• Parents pay for their children to attend

• not run by the government.

• The most famous public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

FURTHER EDUCATIONColleges• 6th form - A levels, often tends to

prepare for university• Vocational qualifications - work

related qualifications• Apprenticeship University• Undergraduate degrees take three

years to complete • a master's degree is normally earned

in a single year• Some specialised degrees take longer

SUBJECTS

Subjects for 5 -11 year olds

• English• Mathematics• Science• Information Technology• Religious Education • Design and Technology• History• Geography• Art• Music• Physical Education

In secondary school also

• Modern Foreign Languages

• CitizenshipIn addition to the

NC• RE • Sex Education

Schools follow the National curriculum

EXAMS• GCSE (General Certificate of

Secondary Education). • In state schools English,

Mathematics, Science, Religious Education and Physical Education are studied during the GCSE years of school

• Other subjects, chosen by the individual pupil, are also studied.

• After completing the GCSE, some students leave school, others go onto technical college

• high school - A levels

SCHOOL DAY• nine o'clock, finishes at three • Registration - the attendance

of every child is recorded • Assembly - songs, stories,

school events and praying• A period of lessons in the

morning with about 20 minute break

• usually a 40 - 60 minute lunch break

• Actual taught time as defined by Department of Education is 23.5 hours weekly

SCHOOL UNIFORMS• Most school in England require

children to wear a school uniform.• first introduced on a large scale

during the reign of King Henry VIII.

• School uniforms are required to be fair for both genders, provide a reasonably low cost and tolerate religious freedoms

WHY UNIFORMS?Why wear a Uniform?• When we go on a school

trip we all look the same and so can't get lost.

• Stops kids worrying about what to wear each day.

• Everyone is equal. • Parents don't have to

shop for expensive and varied wardrobes for their children to keep up with or show-off to other children

• Wearing a uniform instils a sense of pride and discipline in students

Why not to wear a uniform:

• Uniforms deny students their right to personal identity and self-expression.

BASIC UNIFORMBoys• Long grey or black

trousers (shorts may be worn in the Summer)

• White Shirt or polo shirt

• School tie (optional in most primary schools)

• Jumper or sweater with the school logo on. The colour is the choice of the schools

• Black shoes

Girls• long grey or black

trousers or skirt or pinafore

• white shirt or polo shirt• School tie (optional in

most primary schools)• Jumper or sweater with

the school logo on. The colour is the choice of the schools.

• Black shoes• During the summer term

girls often wear summer school dresses.

JUNIOR SCHOOL UNIFORM

A SENIOR SCHOOL UNIFORM

LUNCHTIME• hot or cold dinner provided by the school • or a packed lunch taken from home• School lunches are priced around £1.60 –

2.00

SCHOOL LIFE• During break times and lunch

times the children go out and play in the playground.

• Popular playground games are hopscotch, tag, rope jumping, adventure playground

• Many school have their own sport teams

• The most popular sports are soccer, cricket, rugby; other sports such as basketball, swimming, rowing and hockey

• Many schools offer a variety of clubs

• Many students also learn a musical instrument

SCHOOL EVENTS• Sports day• Festivals• School trips• Concerts• Mufti day• Fayres• Meetings and visits

TESTING AND ASSESSMENT

• Parents meetings• Consultations• Teacher’s continuous assessment• At the end of each key stage, parents

get a report from the school informing them of:- the results of child's tests (were

there any)- the teacher assessment levels child

has achieved- the results for all the children in the

child's age group in the school- the national results for the previous

year

The grading system

0-U1-G2-F3-E4-D5-C6-B7-A8-A*

AN EXAMPLE OF A SCHOOL

Do you have any questions?

SOURCES• http://www.histclo.com/schun/country/eng/

schuneng.html• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page• http://www.projectbritain.com/• http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/

archive/tags/private+school+scouts/default.aspx• http://www.flashley.staffs.sch.uk/school.html• http://www.mangotsfieldprimary.org/

page_viewer.asp?page=School+Uniform&pid=18• http://www.goring-by-sea.w-sussex.sch.uk/

parents/uniform.htm• http://www.wolfsonhillel.enfield.sch.uk/index.php?

module=Pages&func=display&pageid=32• http://www.google.co.uk/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi