Education in Great Britain (part I)

The aim of education in Great Britain is to realize the potential of all students, for the good of the individual and society as a whole.

In Britain all children from five to sixteen go to school. They spend six years at primary school, and then go on to secondary school.

Primary schools vary in size and location, some hav­ing as few as two teachers and others as many as 30. Pu­pils at primary school have such subjects as English, mathematics, science, history, geography, music, art and physical education.

Compulsory secondary school age is from 11 to 16. At secondary school children build on the knowledge they have acquired at primary school and also start to learn a foreign language.

At the age of 16 secondary school students take exami­nations to get the General Certificate of Secondary Edu­cation. It does not allow school-leavers to enter university but to start work or do some vocational training. Those who want to get higher education stay at school for two more years and at the age of 18 take A (Advanced) level exams in two or three subjects. Good A-level results are necessary to get a place at a university.

Most children of compulsory school age receive free education financed from public funds. State schools usu­ally teach both boys and girls together.

A small number of children attend private, or "inde­pendent" schools, not financed by the state. A private school for children between the ages of 8 and 13 is called "preparatory". A private school for students aged 13 to 18 is called "public".

Public schools are usually schools of separate education for either girls or boys. Many of them are boarding schools. Children stay at school all the time and only come home for the holidays. Students usually wear uniform. Typical English public are Eton and Harrow. They prepare boys for Oxford, Cambridge, and other prestigious universities. Academic standards of such public schools are very high.

Only 25 per cent of the student population goes on to higher education. Competition to get into one of Britain`s universities is fierce and not everyone who gets A levels can go. Students apply to universities months before they take their A-levels. The students are given a personal interview and the universities then decide which student they want. They offer them a place which depends on A-level results.

Most big towns in Britain have both a university and collage of higher education. There are 91 universities in Britain and 47 colleges of higher education. University offer three- and four-year degree courses; colleges

of higher education offer both two-year HND(Higher National Diploma) courses, as well as degree courses.

A degree is qualification you get from university when you pass your final exams. You are then awarded a BA (Bachelor of Arts), BSc (Bachelor of Science) or BEd(Bachelor of Education).

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