Unit 4 Education In Great Britain
Nursery and Primary Education
There are three stages of schooling in Great Britain with children moving from primary school (the 1st stage) to secondary school (the 2nd stage). The third stage (the tertiary level) provides further and higher education and includes colleges of further education, technical colleges, colleges of higher education and universities.
Full-time education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 16 and it is free of charge at state schools, though parents may choose a private (fee-paying) school and spend their money on educating their children. Generally speaking, children may start their schooling at the age of 3 or 4 at nursery (pre-primary) schools which provide informal education and play facilities.
The main aim of nursery schools is to give basic foundation in literacy and numeracy, or what is known as «the three Rs’»(Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic) that is to prepare children for primary school. Nursery schools are not compulsory, the attendance is optional and only 25% of children attend them.
The average child begins his or her compulsory education at the age of 5 at primary school. The first two years are called the Infant school. Children learn to read, write and do simple arithmetic. In addition they draw, paint, model and sing.
At 7 pupils are transferred to the Junior school which is usually located in the same building. The following subjects are in the study program: English, mathematics, science, history, geography, music and others. At the age of 11 pupils finish the primary school and continue their education at one of the secondary schools.
Secondary Education
Today secondary education in Great Britain is mainly provided by several types of schools: secondary modern schools, grammar schools specialist schools and (now predominant) comprehensive schools.
The Secondary Modern School is attended by pupils between the ages of eleven and sixteen. It is a state school with practical trend. Such courses as secretarial, trade and commerce, agriculture are taught there. These schools are well equipped with workshops.
The Secondary Grammar School is attended by pupils between the ages of 11 and 16 or 18 years old. Some of them are state schools and some are private. Most of them specialize in two sides: ancient languages, Greek and Latin, history, and philosophy (a classical side) and modern languages, science and geography (a modern side).
Among the private grammar schools there are some very old and famous ones such as Eton, Harrow, Rugby and Winchester. These are mainly boarding establishments (student study and live there) so they have a deep and lasting influence on their leavers and cultivate a «team-spirit».
Secondary Modern and Grammar schools take pupils after a strict selection procedures (exams) at the age of 11.
The Specialist Schools program in England was started in 1993 and these are state schools. They specialize in technology, science and mathematics, modern foreign languages, sports and arts. Comprehensive schools are state schools which combine three types of schools: grammar school, secondary modern school and specialist school. These schools take pupils without reference to their abilities. Pupils study according to the general program till the age of 13 or 15, after that they have special courses depending on their inclination.
Under the new national сurriculum a great emphasis is laid on science and technology. Accordingly, ten subjects have to be studied: three «core subjects»: English, science, mathematics and seven «foundation subjects» such as history, geography, a modern foreign language, technology, music, art and physical education.
School year is usually divided into three terms with holidays at Christmas, Easter and for a month of August. In addition there is normally a mid-term one week holiday, known as a «half-term». Classes of pupils are called forms and are numbered from one to six beginning with the first form. Passage from one form to the next one is automatic.
At the age of 14 pupils are tested in «core» and «foundation» subjects. At the same age (in the 3rd or 4th form) pupils begin to choose their exam subjects and work for two years to prepare for their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). The GCSE can be taken in a range of subjects, usually five in number. The exams are usually taken in the 5th form at the age of 16. Marks are given separately and are graded from A to G (grades A, B, C are considered to be «good» marks).