Schools in Great Britain

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                               ТЕМА:   

                            “Образование

                              в Великобритании ”

                                

                                      ученицы 9 класса «Б»

                                                        Камышевой Татьяны

                                                                                       

 

                                                  

                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013 г.

 

 

        Great Britain does not have a written constitution, so there are no constitutional provisions for education. The system of education is determined by the National Education Acts.

        Schools in Great Britain are supported from public funds paid to the local education authorities. These local education authorities are responsible for organizing the schools in their areas. There are wide variations between one part of the country and another. For most educational purposes England and Wales are treated as one unit, though the system in  Wales is a little different from that of England. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own education system.

     In England schooling is compulsory for children of 5 to 16 years of age. Any child may attend a school without paying fees. Over 90% of children of compulsory school age go to state schools. The most important changes in Britain’s educational system were introduced under the Education Reform Act 1988. It led to the compulsory National Curriculum for pupils aged 5 to 16 in state schools. The Act also aims to give parents a wider choice of schools for their children. Local educational authorities finance most school education at local level. They also employ teachers. Every state school in England and Wales has a governing body, responsible for the school’s main policies. Parallel reforms are introduced in both Scotland and Northern Ireland.

     This act sets out in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of achievment they should reach by the age of 7, 11, 14 and 16, when they are tested.

Full-time education is compulsory up to the middle teenage years. There are three stages in education. The first stage is primary education; the second is secondary education; the third is further education at university or college.

       In England and Wales compulsory school begins at the age of five, but before that ages children can go to a nursery also called play school or some children attend pre-school play-groups.

 In some areas of England there are nursery schools for children under 5 years of age. Some children between two and five receive education in nursery classes or in infants classes in primary schools. Many children attend informal pre-school play-groups organized by parents in private homes.

     So before going to a primary school children receive nursery education. It’s the first age of education. Around half of 3 — 4 years old in Britain receive nursery education. Children of nursery age need care as well as education. Social, emotional and physical needs must be taken into consideration. Nursery schools are staffed with teachers and students in training. There are all kinds of toys to keep the children busy from 9 o’clock in the morning till 4 o’clock in the afternoon—while their parents are at work. Here the babies play, lunch and sleep. They can run about and play in safety with someone keeping an eye on them.

For day nurseries which remain open all the year round the parents pay according to their income. The local education authority’s nurseries are free. But only about three children in 100 can go to them: there aren’t enough places, and the waiting lists are rather long.

Compulsory primary education begins at the age of 5 in England, Wales and Scotland and at 4 in Northern Ireland. Children start their education in an infant school and move to a junior school at 7 years old. Primary schools vary in size and location. At infants school reading, writing and 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 and write, do simple addition and 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 and composition which are all Eleven Plus subjects. History, Geography, Nature Study, Art and Music, Physical Education, Swimming are also on the timetable. Over 80% of all primary schools are mixed.

   

 

 

    Then children go to the Secondary School. Most Secondary Schools in Britain are comprehensive schools: state schools, which take children of all abilities. In some parts of Britain schools still keep the old system of grammar school, which are selective. But most of them in Britain are called comprehensive schools and are not selective – you don’t have to pass an exam to go there.

 

         In Britain most children of compulsory secondary school at the age from 11 to 16 receive free education financed from public funds. The large majority of schools are mixed. An important feature in Britain is the variety of opportunities offered to schoolchildren. The English school curriculum is divided into Arts (or Humanities) and Sciences. A Science pupil will study Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics (Maths), Economics, Technical Drawing and Biology. An Art pupil will do English Language and Literature, History, foreign languages, Music, Art and Drama. Besides these subjects they must do some general education subjects like PE (Physical Education), Home Economics for girls , and Technical subjects for boys, General Science and, of course, Computers. They play an important part in education nowadays. This system of options exists in all kinds of secondary schools. About 60 % of students who go to grammar schools pass an examination at the age of eleven. At this level children start to learn a modern foreign language.

         Education in Britain mirrors the country social system: it is class-divided and selective. The first division is between those who pay and those who do not pay. The majority of schools in Britain are supported by public funds and the education provided is free. They are maintained schools, but there is also a considerable number of public schools. Parents have to pay fees to send their children to these schools. The fees are high. As a matter of fact, only very rich people can send there children to them.

         A small proportion of children attend private or independent schools, which are not financed by the state. To understand this phenomenon a little history is needed.

          The British government paid little attention to education until the end of the 19th century. Schools had existed in Britain long before the government took an interest in education. A small group of schools admitted only the sons of the upper and upper middle classes. At these public schools much more attention was paid to “character-building” and the development of “team spirit” rather than to academic achievements. These were “boarding- schools” (as the pupils lived in them). These schools were not at all luxurious or comfortable. The pupils wore distinctive clothes and the schools had their own traditions. All pupils must wear school uniform. The favorite colors for uniforms are blue, grey, black and maroon. These are schools for the privileged. There are about 500 public schools in England and Wales.

         About 7 % of students go to private schools.  Most of these are single-sex boarding schools and students can live there during term-time. A typical public school accepts pupils from preparatory schools at about11 or 13 years of age usually on the basis of an examination, known as Common Entrance. There are three sittings of Common Entrance every year in February, June and November. Scholarships are rarely awarded on the results of Common Entrance. The fundamental requirements are very high. Each school is divided into houses with its housemaster. The most famous of these schools are Eton (it was founded in 1440), Harrow (it was founded in 1571, near London), Rugby (it was founded in 1567) and Winchester (it was founded in 1382). These schools are famous for their ability to lay the foundation of a successful future by giving their pupils self-confidence, the right accent, a good academic background. The aim of those schools was to prepare young men to take up positions in the higher ranks of army, in business, civil service and politics. Perhaps most important of all is the opportunity to make friends with right friends and contacts. Public schools educate the ruling class of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. One such school is Gordonstoun, which the Prince of Wales, the elder son of the Queen, left in 1968. Harrow school is famous as the place where Winston Churchill was educated, as well as six other Prime Ministers of England and many other prominent people. At 18 most public school leavers gain entry to universities.

    A typical example of such a school is Eton.

       British education has many different faces but one goal. Its aim is to realize the potential of all for the good of the individual and society as a whole.

 

          The School Year in England and Wales begins in September and continues into July. In Scotland it is from August to June. In Northern Ireland - from September to June. The school year is usually divided into terms, three months each, named after seasons: autumn term, winter term and spring term..

         Autumn term lasts from September (or August) till Christmas holiday, which is about 2 weeks. Then spring term — till Easter holiday (also 2 weeks), and summer term, which lasts till June (or July). Summer holiday is about 6 weeks.

       In addition all schools have a half-term, which lasts a few days or a week in the middle of each term.

     Life at school is similar everywhere. Nearly all schools work five days a week. They are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. The school day starts at 9 o’clock and finishes between 3 and 4p.m. The lunch break usually lasts an hour-and-a-quarter. Most pupils have lunch provided by the school. The lunch is paid by parents. Other children either go home for lunch or have a snack at school.

     Each group of 30 pupils is the responsibility of a form tutor. Each school day is divided into periods of 40-50 minutes, time for various lessons with 10-20 minutes’ breaks between them. It might be interesting for you to see the ‘Bell Times’ at Lawnswood school in Leeds.

The ‘Bell Times’

40. a.m.—School begins
45. a.m.—Registration⁴
50. a.m.—Assembly⁵ bell

9.00   a.m.—Pupils move to lessons

9.05    a.m.—Lesson 1

9.45    a.m.—Lesson 2

10. 25  a.m.—Lesson 3

5. a.m.—Break
25. a.m.—Pupils move to lessons
30. a.m.—Lesson 4
10. p.m.—Lesson 5
50. p.m.—Lunch time
40. p.m.—Afternoon school begins
45. p.m.—Registration
50. p.m.—Lesson 6
30. p.m.—Lesson 7
10. p.m.—End of normal lessons
10. p.m.—Start of additional lessons, clubs, societies, team practice, detentions, etc.

     On important occasions such as end of term or national holiday, called in English schools speech-days pupils are gathered in the assembly area or hall.

       Most of the pupils’ time is spent in a classroom equipped with desks and a blackboard, nowadays often called chalkboard because normally it is brown or green. The desks are manged in rows, the space between the rows is called an aisle.

       In addition to classrooms there are laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Technical rooms are for Woodwork, Metalwork, Technical Drawing. There are rooms for computer studies. Many young people use them for school exercise.

        They are now able to write their own games as well. The Physical Education lessons are conducted at the gymnasium, games-hall or at the playground in front of the school building. There are also language laboratories and housecraft rooms. Every school has a library and a school canteen. In student common room boys and girls can relax during the breaks and lunchtime. The Staff common room is for teachers. In case of illness a schoolchild may go to the sick room.

Pupils at many secondary schools in Britain have to wear a school uniform. This usually means a white blouse for girls (perhaps with a tie), with a dark-coloured skirt and pullover. Boys wear a shirt and tie, dark trousers and dark-coloured pullovers. Pupils also wear blazers—a kind of jacket—with the school badge on the pocket. They often have to wear some kind of hat on the way to and from school—caps for boys, and berets or some other kind of hat for girls. Shoes are usually black or brown. And no high heels!

Young people in Britain often don’t like their school uniform, especially the hats and shoes. Sometimes they do not wear the right clothes. Schools will often give them a warning the first time that this happens but then will punish them if they continue not to wear the correct uniform. Senior student don’t have to wear their school uniform.

It sounds logical to say that the school’s function is to train a pupil’s mind and his character should be formed at home. Teachers would be pleased if the problem could be solved so easily. But children don’t leave their characters at home when their minds go to school. Many of them have personality problems of one kind or another.

The pupils who violate various school regulations may be punished in the following ways: for lateness, truancy they may be reported to the Headmaster or named in school assembly. They may be detained in school after ordinary hours. Corporal punishment has recently been banned in stat schools. But in most public schools it is still allowed. Caning is the usual punishment for serious misbehaviour In class, damage and vandalism. Many teachers remark that sta dards of discipline have fallen since corporal punishme was banned by the government.

You may want to know whether there are any rewards and prizes for the best pupils. Of course, there are. Each school has its system of rewards: medals and prizes.

A school, like any other organizatuon must have basic rules and procedures if it is to function effectively.

Here are some of the regulations functioning at Lawnswood school in Leeds.

Rules

1. Appropriate school dress must be worn on all school occasions.
2. Bicycles shall not be ridden in the school grounds.
3. Ball games may not be played in areas close to unprotected windows.
4. Radios and tape-recorders of any type must not be brought to school.
5. No pupil is allowed to smoke on the school premises¹ or on school visits, or to bring cigarettes, matches or lighters onto school premises. Chewing-gum is not allowed in school.
6. Pupils must move about the corridors and staircases in an orderly manner; running in corridors and on staircases is forbidden.

Procedures

1. Punctuality. Pupils must be in form rooms by 8.45 a.m. and before 1.45 p.m.
2. Lates. Pupils arriving late for registration will obtain a late form from their Form Tutor. Pupils arriving after 9.00 a.m. must report immediately to the Office in their building.
3. Notices. Notices may be displayed on school notice boards only with the permission of a member of Staff.
4. Classes left unsupervised. If a member of Staff does not arrive to take a lesson, the class will wait no longer than five minutes and then report the non-arrival to the Staff room.
5. Safe-keeping. Pupils should never bring valuable articles or large sums of money to school: money must be kept on one’s person. In general, pupils are responsible for the safekeeping of their own property.
6. Lost property. All personal property should be named. A pupil discovering the loss of any article of value will report the fact immediately and those finding property should hand it to a member of Staff.
7. Absences. If pupils are absent, their parents should inform the school by letter, otherwise a card will be sent to their home after two days. On returning to school after any absence, pupils must give to their Form Tutor a note from their parents explaining their absence. Leave of absence canonly be granted under certain circumstances (e.g. careers interviews, non-school exams, family holidays) and should be requested in advanced by letter from parents to the Head of House.
8. Breakages. Any pupil resposible for damage to school property (furniture, windows, etc.) will inform the Deputy Head or the Head of House immediately.

 

    The course of studying at secondary school may lead to General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) qualifications. At 16 years old children take different examinations and have quite a lot of coursework, only after which they’re awarded GCSE.

     Those who stay at school after GCSE, study for 2 more years for A (Advanced) level exams in two or three subjects.

 

 

      In 1988 for the first time in British history, a National Curriculum was introduced. The National Curriculum tells pupils which subjects they must learn and when they have to take assessment tests. Between the age of 14 and 16 pupils study for their GCSE (General certificate of Secondary Education) or «O level» (Ordinary level) exams. Pupils must take English language, Maths, and Science for GCSE, as well as a half GCSE in a Foreign language and Technology. In addition, they must also be taught Physical Education, religious Education and Sex education, although they do not take exams in these subjects. Pupils can leave school at the age of 16. At 15—16 years old school children take public exams.

    They are not usually set up by the government (rather by independent examining boards). Each school or Local Education Authority decides which exams their pupils are to take. The boards publish syllabus for each subject. There is no single school-leaving exam or school-leaving certificate. Usually a vast range of subjects is offered for school children. Nearly all pupils do exam in English, Maths and Science. Most do exams in technology and in a foreign language. Some pupils take exams in 3—4 additional subjects. If pupils stay on, they usually take A (Advanced) levels, AS (Advanced Supplementary) levels or GNVQ (Greater National Vocational Qualifications).

        This used  as an entrance qualification  for university and other  types of higher education, as well as for many forms of professional  training.

      Some comprehensive schools, however, do not have enough academic courses for sixth-formers. Students can transfer either to a grammar school or to a sixth-form college to get the courses they want.

At 18 some students take А-level GCE examinations, usually in two or three subjects. It is necessaiy to have A- levels in order to go to a university or Polytechnic. But some pupils want to stay on at school after taking their GCSE, to prepare for a vocational course or for work rather than for А-level examinations. Then they have to take the CPVE examination which means the Certificate of Pre- Vocational Education.

In Scotland students take the SCE (Scotish Certificate of Education) examinations. A year later, they can take examinations called Highers after which they can go straight to a university.

Secondary education in Northern Ireland is organized along selective lines according to children’s abilities.

       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 that for the child of a professional parent. Besides, government cuts on school spending caused many difficulties.

 

       At the age of 16 pupils can leave school. But quite a lot of them want to continue their education. Only 1/3 of all leave school at 16 look for a job. The general level of unemployed is high today. Some of them find job immediately and many take part in training schemes (which means job combined with part-time college courses).

     In England and Wales those who stay at school study just three subjects in preparation for taking А-level exams (Advanced Level).

       These academic exams are set by the same examining boards that set GCSE exams. They’re taken by pupils at the age of 18 years old, who wish to continue their education.

         Only 25% of the students go to higher education. Competition to get into one of Britain’s universities is fierce and not everyone who gets a level can go. Students usually need three A levels to go to university and grades at A level go from A, the highest grade, to E. The more popular the university, the higher the grades it will ask for Universities and colleges. There is a considerable choice of post-school education in Britain in addition to universities, there are also polytechnics and a series of different types of assisted colleges, such as colleges of technology, art, etc, which tend to provide more work-oriented course than universities. Some of the courses are part-time, with the students being released by their employers for one day a week or longer periods.

      Virtually all students on full-time courses receive grants or loans from the Government which cover their tuition fees and everyday expenses (accommodation, food, books, transport, etc).  In fact, the grant is not a lot of money. Students usually have to work during the holidays to earn more money.

       There are 91 universities in Britain and 47 colleges of higher education. Universities offer three-and-four year’s degree courses; colleges of higher education offer both two-year HND (Higher National Diploma) courses, as well as degree courses.  A degree is a qualification you get from university when you pass your final exams. You are then awarded a BA (Bachelor of Arts) or Bed (of Education).

       Undergraduates, students who are studying for degrees, go to large formal lectures, but most of work takes place in tutorials: lessons in groups of ten or more when they discuss their work with the lecturer. Students who obtain their Bachelor degrees (graduates) can apply to take a further degree course, usually involving a mixture of exam courses and research. There are two different types of post-graduate courses- the master’s degree (MA or MSc), which takes one or two years, and the higher degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) which takes two or three years.

       Universities usually select students on the basis of А-level results and an interview (students who wish to enter Oxford and Cambridge have to take certain exams). Those who have better А-level results are usually accepted.

      Higher education has become more available in the second half of the 20th century. In 1960 there were less than 25 universities in Britain. By 1980 there were already more than 40, and by 1995 there were over a hundred institutions with university status.

       Universities take the better students that are why nearly all students complete their studies. The normal course of study lasts 3—4 years. Students are not supposed to take a job during the term. Quite a lot of students live on campus (or in college) or in rooms nearby.

       Unless their parents are rich, they receive a state grant, which covers most of their, expenses, including the cost of accommodation.

       However, nowadays the government reduces the amount of the students and encourages a system of top-up loans. That’s why quite a lot of students can’t afford to live in college and many more of them are forced to do a part-time job, but this reduces the traditionally high quality of British university education. And, in addition, the number of students from low-income families has been greatly reduced.

       English universities greatly differ from each other. They differ in date of foundation, size, history, traditions, general organization, methods of teaching and way of student life.

 First of all, so called OXBRIDGE. Oxford and Cambridge were founded in the medieval period. They are the oldest and most prestigious universities in Great Britain. Both universities are independent. Only the education elite go to Oxford and Cambridge. These Universities consist of semi-independent colleges, each of them having its own staff (“Fellows”).

        The “Fellows” teach the college students either one-to one or in very small groups. This system is unique in the world and known as tutorials in Oxford and supervisions in Cambridge.

      Then, Scottish universities. By 1600 Scotland had 4 universities — Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and St. Andrews. St. Andrews resembles Oxbridge very much. In the other three most of the students live at home or find their rooms in town. The process of study at these universities is very close to the continental one. There is less specialization than at Oxbridge.

       During the 19th century various institutions of higher education (usually technical ones) were founded in the industrial towns and cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.

      Their buildings were of local brick, so they got the name “redbrick” universities. They contrasted chiefly with Oxford and Cambridge. At first, they prepared students for London University degrees, but later they were given the right to award their own degrees. They became universities themselves. Now they accept students from all over the country. These universities are financed by local authority.

        One of the developments in education in Britain is certainly the Open University. It was founded in 1971. Some people don’t have an opportunity to study full-time, and this university allows them to study for degree. The university’s courses are taught through television, radio and coursebooks. Its students work individually and with tutors, to whom they send their papers. The students discuss their work at meetings or through correspondence. In summer they attend short courses.

    Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest universities in Great Britain. They are called Oxbridge to denote an elitarian education.

   Only rich people send their children to these universities. The main characteristic feature of these universities is the tutorial (that means the individual tuition).

    The normal length of the degree course is three years, after which the students take the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Some courses may be a year or two longer.

     Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of a number of colleges, each self-governing and independent. Before 1970 most of all Oxbridge universities were single-sex (mostly for men). But now the majority admits both sexes. The administrative body of the University consists of the Chancellor (who is elected for life), the vice-chancellor (who is in practice the head of the University, and is appointed annually by the Chancellor) and two proctors, whose job is to maintain discipline and who are appointed annually. Each college has its staff called “Fellows”.

      The University is merely an administrative body, which organizes lectures, arranges examinations, grants degrees. Each college has its name. Most colleges have their own dining hall, library and chapel.

      The University has laboratories and research institutes and other educational facilities. All the lectures are organized by the University. In every college there are students of various specialties but each student follows his own course of study.

    The largest colleges have more than 400 students, the smallest have less than 30.

    Oxford is one of the oldest universities in Europe. It didn’t come into being all at once. Oxford had existed as a city for at least 300 years before scholars began to resort to it. The town of Oxford is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 911 A.D. The university’s earliest charter is dated to 1213.

     The end of the 12th century saw the real beginning of the University. The first group of scholars at Oxford may have been joined by others from Paris, from other parts of Britain. A characteristic feature of Oxford is that many traditions of the Middle Ages are still current there. One of them is that the students have to wear gowns.

      The earliest college buildings seem to have no definite plan. They expanded as the need for more room arose (the Queen’s College). New College had the first regular quadrangle.

      Perhaps the most famous colleges are Christ Church, University College and All Souls. Nowadays there are 29 colleges for men, 5 for women and another 5 have both men and women members.

    Oxford is a place of great beauty, but it is not just a shrine to the past. It is a living entity and its historic buildings are the homes of masters and students whose learning, thinking and ideas have a profound influence on culture, education, science and politics. Many eminent world-known scholars and scientists have been educated at Oxford. All the graduates of Oxford never forget “spirit of Oxford”.

    Cambridge University dates back as the 13th century. Today there are more than 30 colleges. The University is situated on the River Cam. The colleges line the right bank. The oldest university is Peterhouse (founded in 1284) and the most recent is Robinson College (1977). But the most famous is the King’s College. The building is the real example of English 15th century architecture.

Until 1871 the University was only for men. In 1871 the first women’s college was

opened. In 1970s most colleges admitted both men and women.

      Students at Oxbridge have different societies and clubs. Different sports are very popular. But the most popular Sports are rowing and punting. Every year at the end of March (or in early April) a contest between Oxford and Cambridge universities takes place on the River Thames. The course is the 4 1/4 mile stretch of river. The race usually starts at midday or at 3 o’clock. By 1966 Cambridge had won 61 times, Oxford — 50 times.

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

             

In conclusion I’d like to say that education has always been a very important part of the life of every country.

British education mirrors the country social system: it is class-divided and

selective. But every child has an opportunity to get the education they like.