Great Britain is a country of classical capitalism & the system of education reflects the countrys social system: it is class-divided & selective. The first division is between those who pay & those who do not pay. The majority of schools in Britain are supported by public funds & the education provided is free. But there is also a considerable number of public schools. The fees are high. As a matter of fact, only very rich families can send their children to public schools. In some parts of Britain they still keep the old system of grammar schools, which are selective. But most secondary schools which are called comprehensive schools are not selective - you dont have to pass an exam to go there.
The National Education Act of 1944 provided three stages of education: primary, secondary & further education. Compulsory schooling in Great Britain lasts 11 years, from the age of 5 to 16. Some children may continue their schooling up to eighteen, the age of entry to higher education in University, Polytechnics or colleges.
In some areas of England there are nursery schools for children under 5 years of age. Some children between two & five receive education in nursery classes or in infants classes in primary schools.
Nursery schools are staffed with teachers & students in training. There are all kinds of toys to keep the children busy from 9 oclock in the morning till 4 oclock in the afternoon - while their parents are at work. Here the babies play, lunch & sleep. They can run about & play in safety with someone keeping an eye on them.
Most children start school at 5 in a primary school. A primary school may be divided into two parts - infants & juniors. At infants school reading, writing & arithmetic are taught for about 20 minutes a day during the first year, gradually increasing to about 2 hours in their last year. There is usually no written timetable. Much time is spent in modelling from clay or drawing, reading or singing.
By the time children are ready for the junior school they will be able to read & write, do simple addition & subtraction of numbers.
At 7 children go on from the infants school to the junior school. This marks the transition from play to real work. The children have set periods of arithmetic, reading & composition which are all Eleven -Plus subjects. History, Geography, Nature Study, Art & Music, Physical Education, Swimming are also on the timetable.
The abolition of selection at Eleven-Plus Examination brought to life comprehensive schools where pupils can get secondary education.
After the age of 11, most children go to comprehensive schools of which the majority are for both boys & girls.
Comprehensive schools were introduced in 1965. The idea of comprehensive education, supported by the Labour Party, was to give all children of whatever background the same opportunity in education.
At 16 students in England & Wales take GCSE (1) examinations. In 1988 these examinations relpaced the GCE (2) & O-levels (3).
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At 18 some students take A-level (4) examinations, usually in two or three subjects. It is necessary to have A-levels in order to go to a university or Polytechnic.
One can hardly say that high quality secondary education is provided for all in Britain. There is a high loss of pupils from working - class families at entry into the sixth form. If you are a working - class child at school today, the chance of your reaching the second year of a sixth-form course is probably less than one-twelfth of that for the child of a professional parent. Besides, government cuts on school spending caused many difficulties.
(1). GCSE - the General Certificate of Secondary Education - ( 1988, , 2 .)
(2). GCE - the General Certificate of Education - ( 1988).
(3) O-level - Ordinary level - 1) , . 2) , 1988 .)
(4) A-level - Advanced level. 1) , 2) .
4. Look through the contents of the text once again & answer the following questions in a written form.
1. What are the basic features of education in Great Britain?
2. What are the main stages of education in Britain?
3. What pre-school institutions do children under 5 go to?
4. Into what parts is a primary school divided in Britain?
5. What is a comprehensive school & is it rightly considered to be the most progressive school in England?
6. How do public schools differ from comprehensive ones?
7. Do you think British schoolchildren have equal opportunities in getting quality education? Why?
5. Give English equivalents for the following words & word- expressions. Use the active vocabulary in sentences of your own.
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6. Fill in the blanks with the words & word - expressions using your active vocabulary.
1. The... school caters for children between the ages of the five & eleven.
2. British nursery schools... children aged three, four & five years.
3. The... of secondary Education or General... of Education is given to school -leavers in Great Britain.
4. He couldnt pass this examination he... it.
5. The... gives the highest type of education.
6. The abolition of selection at... Examination brought to life comprehensive schools where pupils can get secondary education.
II. 1. Translate the following text from English into Russian in written form.
Special education is provided for children who are deaf, partially hearing, partially sighted, physically handicapped, educationally subnormal, epileptic, autistic or suffering from speech defects. The educationally sub-normal are the largest category in this group. Some handicapped children attend ordinary schools. Others attend maintained specials schools. Special education is intended to enable handicapped children to overcome their difficulties in order that they may, as far as possible, take their place in society. These schools have a more generous staffing ratio & provide physiotherapy, speech therapy & other medical treatment as well as special teaching facilities.
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Attendance is compulsory from 5 to 16. In addition to the provision in special schools, authorities make special arrangements for educating children at home, in small groups or in hospitals when there is no special school.
2. Entitle the text (give possible headings).
3. Make up your own questions of different type on this text (8-10).
4. Translate the following proverbs and sayings into Russian. Comment upon each of them expressing your ideas in English.
1. Its never too late to learn.
2. Knowledge is not something to boast of.
3. The money spent on the brain is never spent in vain.
4. A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on a cold iron.
5. Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is what you get when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get when you dont.
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