Education in Great Britain

The quality of a country’s future life, commercially, industrially and intellectually, depends on the quality of its education system. From the end of the World War II the state in the United Kingdom provides a full range of free educational facilities.

In England schooling is compulsory for children aged from 5 to 16. Any child may attend, without paying fees, a school provided by the public authority, and the great majority attends such schools. A limited number of schoolchildren attend fee-paying schools called “public”, though they are in fact private schools.

At five years old, the age at which education becomes compulsory, children go to infant schools until they are seven and then go to junior schools until the age of 11. Over 80% of all primary schools are mixed.

Some junior schools carry out a policy of streaming. Pupils are streamed, according to their abilities to learn, into A, B, C and D streams – the brightest children go to the A stream and the least gifted to the D stream.

At the age of eleven children start the second stage of their education. They go to local secondary schools.

State schools are divided into the following types: grammar schools (children show a preference for academic subjects), technical schools (most courses are either commercial or technical), modern schools (boys and girls who are interested in working with their hands and learning in practical way can go to these schools).

Nowadays most of the secondary schools in Great Britain became comprehensive schools. These schools usually combine all types of secondary education. The Comprehensive school takes all children over eleven. In these schools children are not separated according to ability. Almost 50% of all secondary schools are single sex. In these schools children are not separated according to ability.

At 16 pupils take a national exam called “GCSE” (General Certificate of Secondary Education) and then they can leave school if they wish. This is the end of compulsory education.

There are also many schools which the state doesn’t control. They are private schools. They charge fees for education of children, and many of them are boarding schools, at which pupils live during the term time.

After leaving school many young people go to colleges of further education to study for more practical diplomas (hairdressing, typing, mechanics).

At 18 pupils pass a national exam called “A” level (Advanced Level). Universities and colleges of higher education accept students with “A” level from 18.

On graduating, the students can enter universities, colleges, polytechnics or other higher educational establishments.

There are about 90 universities in Britain. They are divided into these types: the old universities (Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities); the 19^th century universities such as London and Manchester Universities; and new universities.

Full courses of study offer the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science. Most degree courses at universities last 3 years, language courses 4 years. Medicine and dentistry courses are longer (5-7 years).

Students may receive grants from their Local Education Authority to help pay for books, accommodation, transport and food. This grant depends on the income of their parents.

Most students live away from home, in flats or halls of residence.

Students don’t usually have a job during term time because the lectures, seminars, classes or tutorials are full time.

University life is considered “an experience”. The exams are competitive but the social life and living away from home are also important. The social life is excellent with a lot of clubs, parties, concerts, bars.

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