British education

In Great Britain compulsory schooling takes place between the ages of 5 and 16. Administration of state schools is decentralized. All schools are given a considerable amount of freedom. Children receive preschool education under the age of 5 in nursery schools or in infant’s classes in primary schools.

Education within the maintained schools system usually comprises two stages: primary and secondary education. Primary schools are subdivided into infant schools (ages 5 – 7) and junior schools (ages 7 – 11). Infant schools are informal and children are encouraged to read, write and count and develop the creative abilities.

As for the junior stage, it extends over four years. Children learn arithmetic, reading, composition, history, geography nature study and others. At this stage of schooling pupils are often placed in A, B, C and D streams according to their abilities. Till recently most junior school children had to seat for the eleven-plus examination.

So called comprehensive schools began to appear after World War II. They are much mixed schools which can provide education for over 1000 pupils. Ideally they provide all the courses given in grammar, technical and secondary modern schools.

All children must receive full-time education between the ages of 5 and 16. Formally each child can remain at school for a further 2 or 3 years and continue his studies. Children are tested at the ages of 7, 11,14 and 16. Children from rich families attend private (public) schools.

The main examination for secondary school pupils is the General Certificate of Secondary Education exam. At 18 some students take A-level GCE examination,usually in two or three subjects, in order to go to a university or Polytechnic.

There are about 100 universities in Great Britain, English universities greatly differ from each other. The two intellectual eyes of Britain – Oxford and Cambridge Universities – date from the 12^th and 13^th centuries. After 3 years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, etc. Later he may continue to take the Master’s Degree and then the Doctor’s Degree.

BRITISH EDUCATION (Questions)

1. When does compulsory schooling take place in Britain?

In Britain compulsory schooling takes place between the ages of 5 and 16.

2. When do children receive preschool education?

Children receive preschool education under the age of 5.

3. What are two stages of education within the maintained schools system?

Maintained schools system comprises two stages: primary and secondary education.

4. How are primary schools subdivided?

Primary schools are subdivided into infant schools (ages 5 – 7) and junior schools (ages 7-11).

5. What streams are pupils placed in according to their abilities?

Schoolchildren are often placed in A,B,C and D streams according to their abilities.

6. What are types of schools in Britain?

There are several types of maintained schools in Britain: grammar, technical,

secondary modern and comprehensive schools and private: public schools.

7. When are schoolchildren tested?

Schoolchildren are tested at the ages of 7,11,14 and 16.

8. What is the main examination for secondary school pupils?

The main examination for secondary school pupils is the General Certificate of

Secondary Education exam.

9. How many universities are there in Great Britain?

There are about 100 universities in Great Britain. The oldest universities are

Oxford and Cambridge universities.

10. What are university degrees in Great Britain?

A university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, etc.

Later he may continue to take the Masters Degree and then the Doctors Degree.

BRITISH EDUCATION (Glossary)

сompulsory education - обязательное образование

preschool education -дошкольное образование

nursery schools -дошкольные учреждения

maintained schools - cyбсидируемые школы

primary schools - начальные школы

infant schools - школы первой ступени

junior schools -школы второй ступени

primary education -начальное образование

secondary education -среднее образование

further education -последующее образование

A, B, C, D streams -потоки А. Б. Ц, Д

comprehensive schools -единые средние школы

grammar schools -классические школы

technical schools -технические школы

secondary modern schools -средние современные школы

private (public) schools -частные школы

the General Certificate of -экзамен на аттестат об общем

Secondary Education exam среднем образовании

A-level GCE examination -экзамен повышенного уровня

Politechnic -политехнический институт

The Degree of Bachelor of Arts, -степень бакалавра искусств,

Science наук

The Master’s Degree -степень магистра

The Doctors Degree -степень доктора наук

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30