EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN

Twelve million children attend about 40.000 schools in Britain. Education in Great Britain is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of 5 and 16. There are many children who attend a nursery school from the age of 3, but it is not compulsory. In nursery schools they learn some elementary things such as numbers, colours, and letters. Apart from that, babies play, have lunch and sleep there. Whatever they do, there is always someone keeping an eye on them.

Compulsory education begins at the age of 5 when children go to primary school. Primary education lasts for 6 years. It is divided into two periods: infant schools (pupils from 5 to 7 years old) and junior schools (pupils from 7 to 11 years old). In infant schools children don't have real classes. They mostly play and learn through playing. It is the time when children just get acquainted with the classroom, the blackboard, desks and the teacher. But when pupils are 7, real studying begins. They don't already play so much as they did it in infant school. Now they have real classes, when they sit at desks, read, write and answer the teacher's questions.

Secondary school is traditionally divided into 5 forms: a form to each year. Children study English, Mathematics, Science, History, Art, Geography, Music, a Foreign language and have lessons of Physical training. Religious education is also provided. English, Mathematics and Science are called "core" subjects. At the age of 7,11 and 14 pupils take examinations in the core subjects.

There are 3 types of state secondary schools in Great Britain. They are:

1) comprehensive schools, which take pupils of all abilities without exams. In such schools pupils are often put into certain sets or groups, which are formed according to their abilities for technical or humanitarian subjects. Almost all senior pupils (around 90 per cent) go there;

2) grammar schools, which give secondary education of a very high standard. Entrance is based on the test of ability, usually at 11. Grammar schools are single sexed schools;

3) modern schools, which don't prepare pupils for universities. Education in such schools gives good prospects for practical jobs.

After five years of secondary education, at the age of 16, pupils take the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examination. When they are in the third or in the forth form, they begin to choose their exam subjects and prepare for them.

After finishing the fifth form pupils can make their choice: they may either leave school and go to a Further Education College or continue their education in the sixth form. Those who stay at school after GCSE, study for 2 more years for "A' (Advanced) Level Exams in two or three subjects which is necessary to get a place at one of British universities.

There are also about 500 private schools in Great Britain. Most of these schools are boarding ones, where children live as well as study. Education in such schools is very expensive, that's why only 5 per cent of schoolchildren attend them. Private schools are also called preparatory (for children up to 13 years old) and public schools (for pupils from 13 to 18 years old). Any pupil can enter the best university of the country after leaving this school. The most famous British public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

After leaving secondary school young people can apply to a university, a polytechnic or a college of further education.

There are 126 universities in Britain. They are divided into 5 types:

The Old ones, which were founded before the 19th century, such as Oxford and Cambridge;

The Red Brick, which were founded in the 19th or 20th century;

The Plate Glass, which were founded in 1960s;

The Open University. It is the only university offering extramural education. Students learn subjects at home and then post ready exercises off to their tutors for marking;

The New ones. They are former polytechnic academies and colleges.

The best universities, in view of "The Times" and "The Guardian", are The University of Oxford, The University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, London Imperial College, London University College.

Universities usually select students basing on their A-level results and an interview.

After three years of study a university graduate get the Degree of a Bachelor of Arts, Science or Engineering. Many students then continue their studies for a Master's Degree and then a Doctor's Degree (PhD).

Vocabulary Notes

compulsory – обов’язковий

free – безкоштовний

to attend – відвідувати

nursery school – дитячий садочок

to keep an eye on (somebody) – доглядати за кимось

primary school – початкова школа

іnfant school – початкова школа, молодші класи, перший ступінь початкової школи

junior school – початкова школа, другий ступінь початкової школи

get acquainted with – ознайомити

"core" subjects – основні, базові предмети

single sexed school — школи для хлопчиків та дівчаток (розділені по статевій ознаці)

GCSE — екзамен на отримання сертифікату про закінчення середньої освіти

boarding school — школа-інтернат, школа-пансіон
preparatory school — підготовча приватна школа
public school — привілейована приватна школа
to apply — подавати заяву
extramural — заочний, вечірній
polytechnic — політехнікум
tutor — викладач
Degree of a Bachelor — ступінь бакалавра
Master's Degree — ступінь магістра
Doctor's Degree — докторська ступінь

comprehensive school – загальноосвітня школа

E x e r c i s e s

I. Answer the questions:

1. How many schools are in Britain?

2. What do the children study at nursery schools?

3. When does the compulsory education begin?

4. What are the periods of primary education?

5. What are three types of state secondary schools in Great Britain?

6. What do the pupils take after five years of secondary education?

7. What types of universities are in Great Britain?

II. Find the correct English word for the phrase:

1) a period of time when the children learn —

2) the time between the lesson —

3) a list which shows when lessons begin and end —

4) a large thing where the teacher writes on with a piece of chalk —

5) the material that you write and draw on —

6) a small bag for your pens —

7) the room where the children and teacher are —

8) a special word for a child in a school —

9) the person who looks after the school —

10) a formal written, spoken or practical test —

11)the people who work at school —

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