C) Match each difference 1-6 with its argument a-f.

a) Since state school education is free, the academic curricula and programs may not be as refined as those of independent schools. Usually, they offer the same programs and standardized tests for all the students. In short, what the students learn in state schools is decided by the state. However, independent schools offer alternative curricula and have their own assessment system.

b) Educational problems in state schools include higher rate of violence and student dropout. It is due to the fact that these schools accept all students, irrespective of their behaviour and talent. Whereas in independent schools, they select students on the basis of their assessment, thus resulting in a safer environment.

c) State schools receive most of their funds from the state or federal government while independent schools rely on such private sources as donations and organizations for their funding. Since most state schools are administered by local governments, the overall funding is contributed by the local, state, and federal governments. Independent schools are under the control of a private body or a charitable trust.

d) Since state schools take students irrespective of their academic achievement and aptitude, they have lower standards than independent schools where performance is many times better in standardized achievement tests.

e) In state schools all the students get admission, irrespective of the student’s talent. They cannot deny any student who has applied for admission. On the other hand, independent schools have full authority to reject a student who is not up to the mark.

f) On an average, most state schools are twice the size of independent schools. According to a survey, they have an average of 10-12 students per teacher, whereas state schools have an average of 23 students per teacher.

d) Work in pairs to discuss differences between private and state schools in Britain. Use the Essential Strategy Language.

13. a) Read the article about the competition between state and public schools in Great Britain. Choose the most suitable heading from the list (A-M) to each part (0-11) of the article. There is one extra heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning.

The competition between state and public schools

A	The official stand
B	The prospects for the future
С	The advantage of selectivity
D	The disadvantage of selective state schools
E	The school-of-the-year is not the only one
F	A new face on the top
G	The things parents look for
H	The money-free image of selective state schools
I	The school-of-the-year’s impressive progress
J	The new generation chooses the best
K	Independent schools aren’t so black as they are painted
L	Free education for all
M	Parents and children look for the quality

0. This weekend’s Sunday Times guide to the best state schools shows that Henrietta Harnett, a selective girls’ school in Hampstead, came fourth with 94.1% of its A - level results at grades A or B.It was ahead of many famous schools and was beaten only bythree privateLondon rivals. Theguide shows10 stateschools passed the 80 % mark for A and B grades, compared with just twolast year.

1. Educationalists believe thatselective state schools enjoy the benefits of pickingpupils only on the basis of academic ability. At some ofthe best of these schools, about 10 childrencompete foreach place, compared with five per place at the top private schools. Some parents are rejecting private schools, whichcan cost more than £19,500 a year, in favour of the state ones, where they believe children can get an equally good education for free.

2. Jacqualyn Pain, head teacher at Henrietta Barnett, said: "Independent schools have to look ahead. In future parents may prefer to save upfor a university education rather than spend the moneyon school fees."

3. Henrietta Barnett, which is the Sunday Times state school of the year, has more than 10 applications for every place. Applicants sit for verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests at the first stage of admissions, followed by English and math tests if they make it onto a shortlist. The school’s performance at A - level jumped by almost 20 % this year and 50% of its GCSEs were at A and B grade.

4. The second-highest state school was Queen Elizabeth’s school in Barnet, where 89% resulted in A or B grades. That compares with 73.4% last year. Last year about 100 of its 180 new pupils picked it after turning down places or scholarships at independent schools.

5. John Marincowitz, its head teacher, said some parents used the independent sector as insurance in case they failed to secure a place at Queen Elizabeth’s. "Parents aren’t looking at the old school tie," he said. "They are looking for people with a broad education in a normal environment."

6. Tom Bealby, 17, was offered places at two leading independent schools but chose Queen Elizabeth’s. His mother said: “The issue of fees was brought up, but really we made the decision because there was a feeling of real academic excellence, a fantastic mix rather than an environment of privileged children.”

7. Pauline Cox, headmistress of Tiffin Girls’ school in Kingston, the third-highest state school in this year’s Sunday Times guide, said that the gap between state and independent schools was narrowing because of the “sparkiness” of the selective schools. “In independent schools, parents expect to buy success, which can lead to tension, while money can’t buy a place in our schools,” she said.

8. Ruth Rettie has two daughters at Tiffin. The girls were offered scholarships to independent schools but turned them down. “One reason for our decision was that private schools see parents as the customer - but Tiffin sees the girls as their clients and that is who they focus on,” Rettie said.

9. Officials representing the independent sector deny that they are threatened by the growing popularity and improving performance of state selective schools. This year the number of pupils at accredited independent schools went over 500,000, an increase of 1.7 % on the previous year. Dick Davison, a spokesman for the Independent Schools Information Service, said: “In large parts of the country there aren’t selective schools, but in any case, parents are looking at more than examination results. They are also looking for smaller class sizes, more individual attention, discipline and extracurricular activities.”

10. Head of Westminster School, where fees are £12,000 (day pupils) and £18,000 (boarders), said: “The state selective schools have a fantastically bright intake but there are only a few of them around and parents are fortunate if they live near one of them.”

11. Charles Clarke, the education secretary, welcomed the improvement of state schools. “Pupils from all backgrounds deserve the right to excellence in education - and it is good to see state schools competing with the top independent schools. But we must do more. Our goal is to raise standards in every state school," he said.

14. Choose the right variant by c ircling the letter next to the best answer.

1) The main point of the article is to show that:

a) independent schools remain the best in spite of all the changes;

b) selective state schools are closing the gap on private ones;

c) independent schools mostly care for their pupils’ parents;

d) free education in state schools is the main reason of their popularity.

2) In paragraph 0 the author:

a) shows the advantages of selective state schools;

b) says that independent schools have not lost the competition;

c) gives some statistics;

d) shows how high the results of British schoolchildren are.

3) Paragraph 1 explains:

a) why selective state schools perform so well;

b) that attending independent schools is too expensive;

c) that free education doesn’t mean bad education;

d) why parents are not satisfied with private schools.

4) In paragraph 2 the author:

a) warns independent schools;

b) advises parents to save up to send their children to university;

c) doesn’t see much use in paying high school fees;

d) advises to send children to state selective schools.

5) Paragraph 3 demonstrates that:

a) 20 % of Henrietta Barnett’s pupils have to sit for the tests;

b) Henrietta Barnett is more popular than any other school;

c) Henrietta Barnett holds tests for applicants in 2 stages;

d) Henrietta Barnett’s performance is the best in Great Britain.

6) Paragraph 4 illustrates:

a) the Queen Elizabeth’s improvement in A and B grades;

b) the Queen Elizabeth’s improvement on the last year;

c) the percentage of pupils turning down places at independent schools;

d) the change in favour of state selective schools.

7) Paragraph 5:

a) shows that parents don’t care about the ties their children wear at school;

b) proves that parents are very careful about insurance;

c) gives further arguments in favour of state selective schools;

d) stresses the importance of a good environment.

8) Paragraph 6 explains that:

a) the issue of money is not the main one when choosing a school;

b) parents are attracted by academic excellence;

c) parents are attracted by a fantastic mix;

d) parents don’t like an environment of privileged children.

9) Paragraph 7 shows that:

a) the number of independent schools is narrowing;

b) independent schools are for successful parents;

c) there is a lot of tension among parents who can’t buy a place at a school;

d) at state schools the pupils’ progress depends only on themselves.

10) Paragraph 8 argues that:

a) selective state schools are learner-centered;

b) private schools have a lot of customers;

c) you can see a lot of girl-clients at Tiffin;

d) it’s difficult to get scholarships to independent schools.

11) From paragraph 9 we can find out that:

a) there aren’t many selective state schools in the country;

b) selective school are becoming more popular;

c) selective schools have improved their performance;

d) independent schools don't worry much about their state rivals.

12) Paragraph 10 shows:

a) the reason why independent schools don’t see state schools as a threat;

b) that selective schools have a fantastic intake;

c) how expensive the private school tuition is;

d) why parents are lucky.

13) Paragraph 11 concludes that:

a) the government is completely satisfied with state schools;

b) the government sees ways to improve state schools;

c) the government welcomed the education secretary;

d) the government wants to introduce standards for every state schools.

15. a) Read the sentences below. Which of them describe state schools and which are about independent schools?

b) Which of the sentences are in favour of the school and which are arguments against?

1) The school provides social mixture / diversity. Students come from all over.

2) These schools are old-fashioned in clinging to traditions, uniforms.

3) The school sets much higher standards that will motivate students to learn.

4) The school has bad reputation because of truancy and vandalism.

5) These schools are too big, but current demographic trends are making schools smaller.

6) The school has lower academic standard.

7) The school has high academic standards.

8) The school provides house system (groups of 50 under the care of a housemaster).

9) The school selects carefully teachers who graduated from “Oxbridge”.

10) The school has a high staff ratio (i.e. small classes).

11) The school favours an educational elite.

12) The school has many rules for students to observe.

13) These schools are only available to predominantly upper and middle class families who can afford it.

14) The school provides a greater equality.

15) The school favours social isolation from other classes.

c) Listen to the speakers talking and tick sentences in part B which they mention.

d) Work in pairs to discuss benefits and disadvantages of state and independent schools in Britain. Use the Essential Strategy Language.

16. Read the text below and fill in the gaps with the word which fits it.

Some educational problems exist in public schools, which are comparatively lesser in private schools. The system of public schooling is different from that of private school, particularly in terms of funding and administration. Public schools receive most of their funds from the state or federal government (1) _____ private schools rely on such private sources as donations and organizations for their funding. (2) _____ most public schools are administered by local governments, the overall funding is contributed by the local, state, and federal governments. Private schools are under the control of a private body or a charitable trust.

The first and foremost educational problem of public schools is the larger school size and student population. On an average, most public schools are twice the size of private schools. According to a survey, they have an average of 16 students per teacher, whereas private schools have an average of 13 students per teacher. This may be due to free education offered in public schools. (3) _____ may be the reason, students of public schools receive less individual attention, as compared to private school students.

(4) _____ public school education is free, the academic curricula and programs may not be as refined as those of private schools. Usually, they offer the same programs and standardized tests for all the students. In short, what the students learn in public schools is decided by the state. (5) ______, private schools offer alternative curricula and have their own assessment system.

In public schools, all the students get admission, irrespective of the student’s talent. They cannot deny any student (6) ____ has applied for admission. Sometimes, this may result in a slow learning pace for the talented students. On the other hand, private schools have full authority to reject a student who is not up to the mark. (7) _____, many times, private schools perform better in standardized achievement tests.

Educational problems in public schools include higher rate of violence and student dropout. It is due to the fact that these schools accept all students, irrespective of their behavior and talent. Whereas in private schools, they select students on the basis of their assessment, thus resulting in a safer environment. However, in order to clear your doubt, you can always check for previous records and school rankings (8) _____ sending your child to any of the public schools. You can also meet the principal for a better perspective, regarding the safety, and the rules and regulations of the school.

(9) ______ public schools have some educational problems, there are various advantages of this schooling system. Since the student population is more in public schools, exposure to various kinds of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds is quite obvious, which in turn teaches students to get along with people, irrespective of their social status.

In spite of the general educational problems in public schools, a study has revealed that students of public schools get better grades in college (10) _____ those in private schools. Hence, before enrolling your child to any of the schools, it is always better to analyze the pros and cons of both private and public schools. You can opt for a school, which will best meet your child’s interests and suit his/her abilities.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14