Education in Great Britain
- 1. By Olga Teplova, Irina Selivanova
- 2. Basic features • Full-time education is compulsory; • Compulsory education is free of charge but a child can be educated privately; • The academic year begins at the end of summer; • There are 3 stages: primary, secondary, higher; • The education debates: quality, social justice, freedom of choice.
- 3. Parliament acts • Reform Act 1832 - education was provided to the middle-class. • Reform Act 1867 - respectable working-class children were provided with education. • Education Act 1880 - everyone, at least up to the age of 10 had to attend school. • Education Act 1891 - free education.
- 4. School education • primary education (up to 11) • secondary education (up to 16)
- 5. Primary education - Compulsory education begins at the age of 5 - In First School (infant school) children learn reading & writing, the basis of arithmetic, music, history, art, geography, technology (age 5 to 7) - In Middle School (junior school) new subjects: physics, chemistry, biology (7 to 11) - much practice - 12 compulsory subjects
- 6. Secondary education Comprehensive schools Secondary modern schools Grammar schools Technical schools - Ages from 13 to 16 - Amount of subjects decreases - Can chose from 5 to 9 subjects - Getting ready for GCSE (A & G marks)
- 7. Private education • The government does not support these schools financially. • Choice: day or boarding schools, single-sex or mixed schools. • There are 2,400 schools in Britain. • 10% of all pupils in Britain go to public schools. • Nearly all pupils pass successfully A-level exam.
- 8. ‘Clarendon 9’ – the most prestigious private schools • Eton • Charterhouse • Harrow • Rugby • Shrewsbury • Westminster • Winchester • St. Paul’s • Merchant Taylors’
- 9. Education beyond sixteen • Some students look for a job and others continue their education (further or tertiary education). • There has been the growth of higher education: a lot of new institutions have appeared. • UCAS (the University Central Admissions Service) – a messenger between an applicant and the universities.
- 10. Academic exams and qualifications GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) Taken by most 15 to 16 year olds in England, Wales, Northern Ireland SCE (Scottish Certificate of Education) Taken by most 15 to 16 year olds in Scotland A Levels (advanced Levels) Taken by people around the age of 18 who wish to go on to higher education SCE ‘Advanced Highers’ The Scottish equivalent of A-levels Degree A qualification from a university Bachelor’s Degree The general name for a first degree Master’s Degree The general name for a second degree Doctorate The highest academic qualification
- 11. HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN
- 12. BRITISH UNIVERSITIES DIFFER IN
- 15. good A-level results in at least two subjects interviews
- 16. ACADEMIC YEAR
- 17. DEGREES Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc AFTER THREE YEARS OF STUDY LATER: needs two further years of study, Master's Degree Doctor's Degree with examination papers and substantial dissertations preparing theses which must make original contributions to knowledge
- 21. They were founded as non-collegiate universities in the 19th and the early part of the 20th centuries. London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Shetfield, and Birmingham
Editor's Notes
- #5: compulsory education begins at 4-5. pre-school education is available for ages two to four/five through playgroups and nursery schools. there is little or no special subject teaching Secondary - Between the ages 14 and 16 pupils study for their GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exam. Pupils must take English language, Maths and Science for GCSE, as well as a half GCSE in foreign language and Technology. In addition they must be taught Physical Education, Religious Education and Sex Education. (they don’t take exams in these subjects). At the age of 16 pupils can leave school. If pupils stay on they take A (advanced) levels. Pupils take A-levels in traditional subjects, such as French or History.