Great Britain. Schooling is compulsory for twelve years, for all children aged five to sixteen

Schooling is compulsory for twelve years, for all children aged five to sixteen. There is usually a move from primary to secondary school at about the age of 11. There are two voluntary years of schooling thereafter. Children may attend either state-funded or fee-paying independent schools. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the primary cycle lasts from 5 to 11. Generally speaking, children enter infant school, moving on to junior school (often in the same building) at the age of 11. Roughly 90 per cent of children receive their secondary education at ‘comprehensive’ schools. Secondary school can include the two final years of secondary education. In many parts of the country these two years are spent at a tertiary or sixth-form college (a historical name), which provides academic and vocational courses.

Two public academic examinations are set, one on the completion of the compulsory cycle of education at the age of sixteen, and one on the completion of the two voluntary years. At 16 pupils take the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). During the two voluntary years of schooling, pupils specialize in two or three subjects and take the General Certificate of Education (always known simply as GCE) Advanced Level, or ‘A level’ examination, usually with a view to entry to a university or other college of higher education. These examinations are not set by the government, but by independent examination boards, most of which are associated with a group of universities.

The academic year begins in late summer, usually in September, and is divided into three terms, with holidays for Christmas, Easter and for the month of August, although the exact dates vary from area to area. In addition in each term there is normally a mid-term one week holiday, known as a ‘half-term’.

Scotland, with a separate education tradition, has a slightly different system. Children stay in a primary cycle until the age of 12. They take the Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE) usually at the age of sixteen and, instead of A levels, they take the Scottish Higher Certificate which is more like continental European examinations since it covers a wider area of study than highly specialized A level courses. Many take their ‘Highers’ aged 17 rather than 18, with some opting to take a further examination later, the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies.

By the year of 2000 approximately 9 per cent of the school population attended independent fee-paying schools. The ‘public’ (in fact private, fee-paying) schools form the backbone of the independent sector. Of the several hundred public schools, the most famous are Winchester (founded in 1382), Eton (1440), St. Paul’s (1509), Shrewsbury (1552), Westminster (1560), The Merchant Tailors’ (1561), Rugby (1567), Harrow (1571) and Charterhouse (1611). The academic year of 2007-2008 at Eton cost $54,000 or €39,000. In order to obtain a place at a public school, children must take a competitive examination called ‘Common Entrance’. In order to pass it, most children, destined for a public school education, attend a preparatory (or ‘prep’) school until the age of 13.

Questions (GB):

1. How many years are compulsory for schooling in Great Britain?

2. What do voluntary years mean?

3. How long does the primary cycle generally last?

4. How is the school which covers the primary cycle called?

5. What is an approximate number of children who receive their secondary education in comprehensive schools?

6. How are the two final years of secondary education called?

7. What kinds of courses do these two final years provide?

8. When are the two public academic examinations held?

9. How many subjects do pupils generally specialize during the two voluntary years?

10. What does General Certificate of Education allow to do?

11. Are these two public academic examinations set by the government?

12. What are the subdivisions of an academic year in Great Britain?

13. How is the Scottish educational tradition different from that of the rest of the country?

14. What is the percentage of pupils graduating from private schools?

15. What are the best private school in the UK?

16. What do children pass to get a place at a public school?

The USA

Education in the United States is mainly provided by the public sector, with control and funding coming from three levels: federal, state, and local. Child education is compulsory. Public education is universally available. School curricula, funding, teaching, employment, and other policies are set through locally elected school boards. Educational standards and standardized testing decisions are usually made by state governments. Post-secondary education, better known as "college" in the United States, is generally governed separately from the elementary and high school system.

The ages for compulsory education vary by state. It begins from ages five to eight and ends from ages fourteen to eighteen. In most public and private schools, education is divided into three levels: elementary school (ages 5-10), middle school (sometimes called junior high school (ages 10-14)), and high school (sometimes referred to as secondary education (ages 14-18)). "Middle school" usually includes sixth, seventh and eighth grade; "Junior high" typically includes seventh through ninth grade. Senior high school is a school attended after junior high school. High school usually runs either from 9th through 12th, or 10th through 12th grade. The students in these grades are commonly referred to as freshmen (grade 9), sophomores (grade 10), juniors (grade 11) and seniors (grade 12).

Every student must take English, math, science, and history. You could also have a music or art class, gym or band, or computer or language (usually Spanish or French.) American students have many choices of activities to play. Most schools have teams for basketball, football, baseball, and track and field, but not always soccer or hockey. Students practice these sports after school, and they also participate in official games against other schools. Football is the most popular sport, followed by basketball.

The school year in the United States begins at the end of August and finishes in the middle of June. Students have nearly 3 months of vacation during the summer. The academic year is divided into 4 parts.

During high school, students (usually in 11th grade) may take one or more standardized tests depending on their postsecondary education preferences and their local graduation requirements. In theory, these tests evaluate the overall level of knowledge and learning aptitude of the students. The SAT and ACT are the most common standardized tests that students take when applying to college. A student may take the SAT, ACT, or both depending upon the post-secondary institutions the student plans to apply to for admission. Most competitive schools also require two or three SAT Subject Tests, which are shorter exams that focus strictly on a particular subject matter.

Private schools in the United States include parochial schools (affiliated with religious denominations), non-profit independent schools, and for-profit private schools. Private schools charge rates depending on geographic location, the school's expenses, and the availability of funding from sources, other than tuition. In 2000 article by the Chicago Sun-Times refers to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools as the largest private school system in the USA.

Questions (The USA):

1. What are 3 sources of funding?

2. Who appoints educational standards?

3. What are 3 levels of education?

4. What is another name for Middle school?

5. What is another name for High school?

6. What grades are included into Middle school?

7. What grades are included into High school?

8. What are the common names for students of the 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th grades?

9. What are the compulsory subjects?

10. What can students do in their free time?

11. When does the academic year start?

12. What tests are taken in the 11^th grade? What do they evaluate?

13. What tests are taken when applying to college?

14. What do SAT tests focus on?

15. What are the types of private schools?

16. What is the largest private school in the USA?

After reading t asks to the texts British and American education

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