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Education in Britain

(text about the British Educational System)

1. stage — ступень
2. grammar school — гимназия
3. national exam — государственный экзамен
4. General Certificate of Secondary Education — Аттестат об общем среднем образовании
5. 6th form — шестой класс (соответствует 10-11 классу в российской системе образования)
6. further education — дальнейшее образование
7. accept — принимать
8. graduate from — заканчивать
9. private school — частная школа
10. provide education — предоставлять образование
11. boarding school — школа с проживанием
12. Oxford and Cambridge — старейшие британские университеты
13. public school — английская частная школа для аристократии
14. Eton — известная частная элитная школа
15. assessment — оценивание

Education in Britain is compulsory from 5 till 16. The first stageis primary school (5-11). Children start primary school at 5 and continue until they are 11. In primary schools pupils are taught the so-called three “R”: reading, writing and arithmetic.

The second stage is secondary school, which children start at 11. Secondary schools are called comprehensive, they are free and take children of all abilities, without entrance exams. There are also grammar schools which take children who pass the 11 plus exams. At 16 pupils take a national exam called GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education or “O” level (Ordinary) and they can leave school if they wish and start working. This is the end of compulsory education. Some 16-year-olds continue their studies in the 6th form ( at school or at a sixth-form college). The 6th form prepares pupils for a national exam called “A” level (advanced) at the age of 18. You need “A” level to enter a university. If you don’t enter a university you can go to college of further education to study more practical things such as hairdressing, typing, cooking etc.

The third stage is further education at university or college. Universities and colleges of higher education accept students with “A” levels. Most students graduate at 21 or 22 and are given their degree. Generally universities award two kinds of degree: the Bachelor’s degree and the Master’s degree. Altogether in Britain there are about 100 universities. The oldest and the most famous of them are Oxford and Cambridge.

In Britain there are also private schools. They are expensive but considered to provide a better education and good job opportunities. Private schools are boarding schools, where the children actually live in the school.

The most famous private schools are called “public” schools and they have a long history and traditions. Children from wealthy and aristocratic families often go to the same public schools as their parents and grand parents. The best known of these schools is Eton.

Some more facts about education in Britain:

• The academic year in Britain usually begins in September runs to early July; it has three terms, divided by the Christmas and Easter holidays. In addition all schools have a “half-term” holiday lasting for a few days or a week, in the middle of each term.
• Compulsory education is free.

In Britain education is compulsory, but schooling is not. It means that parents have right to educate their children at home if they wish. But the authorities have no right to enter people’s homes or make routine checks on children’s progress. The responsibility rests on the parents.

Children learn in different ways and at different times and speed and that is the main reason that some parents choose home education for their children. Some other reasons are:

1. distance from school — расстояние от школы
2. religious beliefs — религиозные убеждения
3. dissatisfaction with the system — неудовлетворенность системой
4. bulling — запугивание
5. child’s unwillingness or inability to go to school — нежелание или неспособность учиться
6. special educational needs — особые образовательные потребности

Подведем итоги информации про систему образования в Великобритании:

1. There are three stages of education in Britain:

• the first stage is primary education (5-11). There are infant schools (5-7) and junior school (7-11). In primary schools pupils are taught the so-called three “R”: reading, writing and arithmetic.
• the second stage is secondary education (11- 18) Two last years (6th form) may be spent in a separate sixth-form college, which concentrates on career training.
• the third stage is further education at university or college.

2. There is the National Curriculum (государственный учебный план), which was introduced in Britain in 1988. It tells pupils what subjects they have to study, what they must learn and when they have to take assessment tests.

3. There are three types of state secondary schools in Britain:
1) grammar schools (for the most intelligent children)
2) modern schools (for less intelligent children)
3) comprehensive schools ( for children of all abilities, without entrance exams)

Grammar schools lead towards higher education, the others give general education to prepare students for employment.

Education in Great Britain (5)      

Twelve million children attend about 40.000 schools in Britain. Education in Great Britain is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of 5 and 16. There are many children who attend a nursery school from the age of 3, but it is not compulsory. In nursery schools they learn some elementary things such as numbers, colours, and letters. Apart from that, babies play, have lunch and sleep there. Whatever they do, there is always someone keeping an eye on them.

Compulsory education begins at the age of 5 when children go to primary school. Primary education lasts for 6 years. It is divided into two periods: infant schools (pupils from 5 to 7 years old) and junior schools (pupils from 7 to 11 years old). In infant schools children don't have real classes. They mostly play and learn through playing. It is the time when children just get acquainted with the classroom, the blackboard, desks and the teacher. But when pupils are 7, real studying begins. They don't already play so much as they did it in infant school. Now they have real classes, when they sit at desks, read, write and answer the teacher's questions.

Compulsory secondary education begins when children are 11 or 12 and lasts for 5 years. Secondary school is traditionally divided into 5 forms: a form to each year. Children study English, Mathematics, Science, History, Art, Geography, Music, a Foreign language and have lessons of Physical training. Religious education is also provided. English, Mathematics and Science are called "core" subjects. At the age of 7,11 and 14 pupils take examinations in the core subjects.

There are 3 types of state secondary schools in Great Britain. They are:

1) comprehensive schools, which take pupils of all abilities without exams. In such schools pupils are often put into certain sets or groups, which are formed according to their abilities for technical or humanitarian subjects. Almost all senior pupils (around 90 per cent) go there;

2) grammar schools, which give secondary education of a very high standard. Entrance is based on the test of ability, usually at 11. Grammar schools are single sexed schools;

3) modern schools, which don't prepare pupils for universities. Education in such schools gives good prospects for practical jobs.

After five years of secondary education, at the age of 16, pupils take the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examination. When they are in the third or in the forth form, they begin to choose their exam subjects and prepare for them.

After finishing the fifth form pupils can make their choice: they may either leave school and go to a Further Education College or continue their education in the sixth form. Those who stay at school after GCSE, study for 2 more years for "A' (Advanced) Level Exams in two or three subjects which is necessary to get a place at one of British universities.

There are also about 500 private schools in Great Britain. Most of these schools are boarding ones, where children live as well as study. Education in such schools is very expensive, that's why only 5 per cent of schoolchildren attend them. Private schools are also called preparatory (for children up to 13 years old) and public schools (for pupils from 13 to 18 years old). Any pupil can enter the best university of the country after leaving this school. The most famous British public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

After leaving secondary school young people can apply to a university, a polytechnic or a college of further education.

There are 126 universities in Britain. They are divided into 5 types:

The Old ones, which were founded before the 19th century, such as Oxford and Cambridge;

The Red Brick, which were founded in the 19th or 20th century;

The Plate Glass, which were founded in 1960s;

The Open University It is the only university offering extramural education. Students learn subjects at home and then post ready exercises off to their tutors for marking;

The New ones. They are former polytechnic academies and colleges.

The best universities, in view of "The Times" and "The Guardian", are The University of Oxford, The University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, London Imperial College, London University College.

Universities usually select students basing on their A-level results and an interview.

After three years of study a university graduate get the Degree of a Bachelor of Arts, Science or Engineering. Many students then continue their studies for a Master's Degree and then a Doctor's Degree (PhD).

Questions:

1. When do British boys and girls begin to go to school?
2. What subjects do they study at school?
3. How long does secondary education last?
4. What subjects are called "core" subjects?
5. At what age do children have their exams?
6. What's the difference between modern and grammar schools?
7. What are private schools?
8. Would you like to study in Britain? Why?
9. Compare British and Russian education.
10. What types of British universities do you know?

Vocabulary:
compulsory — обязательный
free — бесплатный
to attend — посещать
nursery school — детский сад (государственный)
letter — буква
to keep an eye on smb. — следить за кем-либо
primary school — младшие классы, начальная школа, школа первой ступени
infant school — школа для малышей, младшая школа
junior school — начальная школа (для детей от 7 до 11 лет)
to get acquainted — знакомиться
secondary education — среднее образование
to be divided into — делиться на
Science — естествознание
Art — изобразительное искусство
core subject — основной предмет
comprehensive school — общеобразовательная школа
according to — в соответствии с
ability — способность
grammar school — грамматическая школа
entrance — поступление
single sexed school — школы для мальчиков и для девочек (разделённые по половому признаку)
modern school — современная школа
GCSE — экзамен на сертификат об окончании среднего образования
"A" (advanced) Level Exam — экзамен уровня 'А' (продвинутого)
private school — частная школа
boarding school — школа-интернат, школа-пансион
preparatory school — подготовительная частная школа
public school — привилегированная частная школа
to apply — подавать заявление
extramural — заочный, вечерний
polytechnic — политехникум
tutor — преподаватель
Degree of a Bachelor — степень бакалавра
Master's Degree — степень магистра
Doctor's Degree — докторская степень