Britain has several school
systems. The solution which is chosen depends on
where people live and how rich they are. British law requires all
children to be in full-time education
from the age of 5 to
16.
Education in Britain is provided by the Local Education Authority (LEA) in
each county. It is financed partly by the government and
partly by local taxes.
Until September 1988, each LEA was free to decide
how to organise education
in its own area. But the National
Curriculum was introduced in September 1988.
It sets programmes of
study in a range of subjects for all state schools in England and
Wales. Independent schools
need not follow it, though many do.
1. School organisation
Most schools have a five-day
week, from Monday to Friday. The school day
begins at about 9 PM and ends at about 4 PM for oldest
pupils (3 PM for the younger ones).
The academic year starts in September and is divided into
three terms.
Pupils have holidays
at Christmas,
Easter and during
the summer, and
short breaks at
half-term.
2. Schools according to the ages
a. Play school
Younger children are
sent to a nursery school or play
school.
b. Primary education
Pupils go to primary school
between the age of 6
and 10. They do not usually have homework.
c. Secondary education
They are larger than primary
schools and children often have to take the
bus to go there. Most
secondary school pupils have to wear a school uniform which originally
was supposed to stop the
distinction between rich pupils and poor
pupils.
In the past, secondary
schools used to be very selective since they
accepted the pupils only if they had passed an exam
called the eleven-plus.
The ancient grammar
schools are not as numerous as in the past
and have been turned into comprehensive schools.
Children study subjects in the
national curriculum and take SATs at 14, and then prepare the
GCSEs (General
Certificate of Secondary Education) in as many subjects
as they want. Pupils who want to go to university need to pass
their A levels in
two or three
subjects.
d. Universities
The British join a university according to the results at their A
Levels. Pupils traditionally leave their
parents' to go to university in another city.
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