EDUCATION EDUCATION in GREAT BRITAINin GREAT BRITAIN

Lecture 6Lecture 6

British system of education has British system of education has

3 stages 3 stages Pre-school (nursery) (3-4 year Pre-school (nursery) (3-4 year olds)olds)

primaryprimary (5-11 years of age), (5-11 years of age), secondarysecondary (11-16 years of (11-16 years of age), age),

higher and furtherhigher and further ( (tertiarytertiary) ) (18 and over)(18 and over)

School education:School education: Compulsory free education at the Compulsory free education at the

school level (5% of pupils attend school level (5% of pupils attend private schools*)private schools*)

Schools are mostly mixedSchools are mostly mixed It is not strictly centralised, mostly It is not strictly centralised, mostly

organised by Local Educational organised by Local Educational Authorities (LEA)Authorities (LEA)

Only in 1988 the National Curriculum Only in 1988 the National Curriculum was introduced in Englandwas introduced in England

**Public = Private!Public = Private!

Confusing terminology:Confusing terminology:

Public schools (Public schools (in the meaning the term is used in the USA in the meaning the term is used in the USA

and elsewhere in the worldand elsewhere in the world) ) in Britain are called in Britain are called “state schools”“state schools”

PrivatePrivate schools (schools (in the meaning it is used in the USA and in the meaning it is used in the USA and

elsewhere in the worldelsewhere in the world) ) in Britain are called in Britain are called “public schools”“public schools”

National CurriculumNational Curriculum InIn England England – consists of – consists of core subjectscore subjects,,

compulsory for 5-16-year-olds: English, math and compulsory for 5-16-year-olds: English, math and sciences and sciences and foundation subjects: foundation subjects: technology, technology, history, geography, music, art and modern history, geography, music, art and modern languageslanguages

In In WalesWales – like in England but Welsh is a core – like in England but Welsh is a core subject in Welsh-speaking schoolssubject in Welsh-speaking schools

In In ScotlandScotland – no unified curriculum but – no unified curriculum but educational authorities recommend that schools educational authorities recommend that schools should follow a broad and balanced curriculumshould follow a broad and balanced curriculum

In In NINI – a compulsory curriculum made up of – a compulsory curriculum made up of religious education and 6 broad areas of study. religious education and 6 broad areas of study. Also includes 4 compulsory cross-cultural themes Also includes 4 compulsory cross-cultural themes

PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC EXAMS:PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC EXAMS: The exams are not set by the The exams are not set by the

government but rather by government but rather by independent examining boardsindependent examining boards

The boards publish a separate The boards publish a separate syllabus for each subject. There is no syllabus for each subject. There is no unified school-leaving exam or unified school-leaving exam or school-leaving certificateschool-leaving certificate

The exams have nothing to do with The exams have nothing to do with school years as such. They are school years as such. They are divorced from the school system divorced from the school system

Categories of public examsCategories of public exams GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary

Education. The exams taken by most 15- Education. The exams taken by most 15- to 16-year-olds in England, Wales, and to 16-year-olds in England, Wales, and Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland

SCE = Scottish Certificate of EducationSCE = Scottish Certificate of Education A-levels = Advanced Levels. Higher-level A-levels = Advanced Levels. Higher-level

academic exams set by the same academic exams set by the same examining boards that set GCSE exams. examining boards that set GCSE exams. They are taken mostly by people around They are taken mostly by people around 18 who wish to go on to higher education18 who wish to go on to higher education

SCE ‘Highers’ = The Scottish equivalent SCE ‘Highers’ = The Scottish equivalent of A-level of A-level

The Sixth FormThe Sixth Form

Pupils finish school at 16Pupils finish school at 16 Universities enroll students Universities enroll students

no younger that 18no younger that 18 Those, who wish to join Those, who wish to join

universities and still under universities and still under 18, study in the sixth form 18, study in the sixth form

UNIVERSITIESUNIVERSITIES

OxbridgeOxbridge – 12-13 – 12-13thth c.c. c.c. The old Scottish universitiesThe old Scottish universities – 15-16 – 15-16thth c.c. c.c.

(Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, St.Andrew)St.Andrew)

The early 19-th century English The early 19-th century English universitiesuniversities (Durham Univ., the Univ. of (Durham Univ., the Univ. of London et al)London et al)

The “redbrick” universitiesThe “redbrick” universities (Birmingham, (Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds et al)Manchester, Leeds et al)

The newer civic universitiesThe newer civic universities ( (technical technical colleges colleges → politechnics→universities)→ politechnics→universities)

The Open UniversityThe Open University

The pioneer in Distance EducationThe pioneer in Distance Education Started in 1969Started in 1969 Study for a degree Study for a degree Courses are taught via TV, radio, the Courses are taught via TV, radio, the

InternetInternet The number of students is more than The number of students is more than

200 000 students200 000 students

University DegreesUniversity Degrees Bachelor’s DegreeBachelor’s Degree (BA = B.of Arts (BA = B.of Arts

BSBS = B.of Sciences) – = B.of Sciences) – a first (undergraduate) degreea first (undergraduate) degree

Master’s DegreeMaster’s Degree (MA = M. of Arts (MA = M. of Arts

MS = M.of Sciences)MS = M.of Sciences)

- a second (graduate) degree- a second (graduate) degree DoctorateDoctorate – the highest academic – the highest academic

qualification (PhD = Doctor of Philosophy)qualification (PhD = Doctor of Philosophy)