Education in the UK

Estra Tõnissonestra@kivilinn.tartu.eeestra.pbworks.com

What do you know about British schools? True or false?

In Britain there is more than one system of education.

Children must start school at the age of 4. It is compulsory to learn for 12 years Most schools in England require children to

wear a school uniform The school year consists of 195 schooldays and

is divided into six terms Summer holidays last for 8 weeks

Types of School

Public means private – private education is gained in independent schools and these are fee-paying schools

State schools provide state education, schools are funded by the government or local education authorities

History again…

Public schools Education left alone by government Only model school the country had

Public School system Boys Fee-paying Boarding Make senior boys ‘prefect’ Divided into ‘houses’ Great emphasis on team sports Use of physical punishment Most famous Eton, Harrow, Rugby and

Winchester

Eton tour

School uniform My daughter has to wear a dark green skirt or

trousers, a white blouse, a dark green jumper, and black shoes and socks or tights. The Moslem girls at her school may wear a head-

scarf, but it must be dark green or white or black. My son wears black trousers, a white shirt, a school

tie and a dark blue jumper. At some schools, the pupils wear blazers – that is, a

jacket in school colours with the school badge on the pocket

Stages of Education

Primary education age (5-11) Secondary Education (11-16-18) Higher Education (18+)

Education system in the UK

Some general facts

School is compulsory to all children at the age of 5-16

Most children and young people in the UK are educated in state funded schools financed through the tax system and so parents do not pay directly for the cost of education.

Primary school - for pupils aged 4/5-11 (Years 1-6)

Though schooling is only compulsory from age 5 in the UK, children most commonly enter Reception Class aged 4 in the academic year in which they will reach their 5th birthday. The remaining years are called Year 1, Year 2, and so forth up to year 6. At the end of the Infant School (age 7), pupils sit Key Stage 1 [SATs]. Key Stage 2 SATs are taken at the end of Year 6, when pupils are aged 11.

Secondary education I – Ages 11–13 (School years 7–9) Secondary school From the age of 11 to 14

students in British state and private schools study a broad range of 10–15 subjects that usually follow the guidelines of the National Curriculum (a country’s official programme of what children must learn at school). No public examinations are taken during this time.

Secondary education II - Ages 14–16 (School years 10–11) Secondary school graduation (GCSE) –

Traditionally, at the age of 14 students start a programme that lasts for 2 years and during which time they study 5–10 subjects of their choice. After this two year period, students take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) state examinations. Passing GCSE exams qualifies students to continue on a two-year A-level programme for university preparation

What’s next? At this stage (at the age of 16) students may choose

to leave school or to continue school. Further education (FE) Students may choose to attend the Further Education

Colleges where a student might follow the National Vocational Qualification programme instead of A levels Further Education Colleges, however, are open to everyone, and those who wish to re-sit their examinations to improve their school-leaving qualifications as well as adult returners. Some specialist further education colleges known as Sixth Form Colleges focus on school level qualifications.

University preparation - (AS/A level) – Ages 16–17 (School years 12–13)

At the age of 16 studenta can start a 2 year programme which leads to A (Advanced) level examinations.

3 or 4 subjects that are usually relevant to the degree subject they wish to follow at university.

At the end of year 1 students take AS level examinations. They continue with three or four of these subjects in year 2 and convert them into full A level qualifications at the end of the year. A levels are state examinations and are recognised by all UK universities and by institutions worldwide.

Higher education (university)

Undergraduate degree programmes (bachelors degree) – Age18+A British bachelors degree normally takes three years to complete and most are awarded at honours level.

BA (Bachelor of Arts)BEng (Bachelor of Engineering)BSc (Bachelor of Science)

Oxford University

Studying at Oxford University

Postgraduate degree programmes (master’s degree) – Ages 21+

Postgraduate courses in the UK are very intensive. This means that the courses are usually much shorter than in other countries. A master’s degree typically takes 12 months to complete.

MA – Master of Arts MEng – Master of EngineeringMBA - Master of Business Administration

Education issues today

Quality Shortage of teachers Low status of teachers (‘Oscars’) Social justice issue Foreign languages UniformLauren in French class

Summerhill Boarding School Founded in 1923 by

the educationalist A.S Neill

Children learn when they want to

better to be a happy streetsweeper rather than a miserable professional

Children themselves make the rules

Lessons are not compulsory

Imagine a school...