Education in Britain
▪ The education system
Most children under 5 receive pre-school education. Some go to playgroups several times a week. Others go to a nursery school or to the kindergarten of a school and parents often have to pay for it.
Children must be in full-time education from 5 to 16. Different areas of Britain have different school systems. In some areas children receive their primary education at a primary school. At about 11 they begin their secondary education at a secondary school. Some pupils when they are 16 stay at school for the sixth form.
Most children go to state schools. Secondary schools and larger primary schools are grant-maintained. These schools are run by a board of governors consisting of parents and members of the public. In Scotland and Northern Ireland most schools are run by local authorities.
Some children go to independent schools for which their parents have to pay fees. A few go to public schools, such as Eton and Harrow.
Young people are expected to show respect for their teachers and obey school rules. Pupils who misbehave may be punished, e.g. by having to stay behind after school. Corporalpunishment was ended many years ago. Sometimes students get into more serious trouble, e.g. by being violent or through using drugs, and risk being expelled.
The British education system aims to help each child develop his or her personality. Most primary and secondary schools offer a range of extra-curricular activities. Secondary schools also give careers advice and arrange short periods of work experience with local businesses to prepare students for a job.
▪ Standards in education
The National Curriculum sets the education standards. Children have to study the coresubjects of English, mathematics and science, and the foundation subjects of technology, geography, history, art, music and physical education. Older children take a foreign language. The National Curriculum doesnt apply in Scotland. Children do standardassessment tests (SATs) at ages 7, 11 and 14. At 16 students take exams for GCSE (General Certificateof Secondary Education).Some may take GNVQs (General National Vocational Qualifications) in work-related subjects. Some students go on to study for A levels in three or four subjects.
Parents and the government watch standards at individual schools closely. Independentinspectors visit schools regularly.
▪ Further and higher education
Many students go to university and study for a bachelor's degree. Others study for a certificate or diploma at a college of further education. Most courses at these colleges train people in a particular skill and combine periods of study with work experience.
Vocabulary:
| nursery school | expelled | ||
| kindergarten | corporal punishment | ||
| primary | personality | ||
| secondary | extra-curricular | ||
| grant-maintained | community service careers advice | ||
| board of governors | work experience | ||
| run | the National | , | |
| local authorities | Curriculum | ||
| pay fees | assessment | ||
| public schools | Vocational Qualifications | ||
| show respect | obey | ||
| bachelor's degree | misbehave | ||
| A levels (Advanced levels) | , |
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Translate:
1. At a primary school children are taught all subjects by a class teacher and dont usually have homework.
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2. At a secondary school pupils have different teachers for different subjects, wear uniform and get regular homework.
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3. Some pupils, especially those who hope to go to university, stay at school for the sixth form.
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4. Extra-curricular activities include sports, music, community service and trips to places of interest.
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5. Schools in Scotland dont usually follow the National Curriculum: they are free to decide how much time they devote to each subject.
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6. Independentschoolsarerun by private organizations.
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7. State schools receive money direct from central government.
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8. Schools whose pupils are not making adequate progress or in which discipline is poor risk being closed down.
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Questions:
1 What stages of education are there in Britain? Speak about each. 2 Speak about different types of schools. (age of pupils / receive money from / run by) 3 Speak about school rules. Are they the same in your country? 4 What is the National Curriculum?
Be ready to speak about the system of education in Britain.
Grammar: The Past Perfect Tense (2)
