Education Part II

Public schools Public schools are not state schools, but independent schools which have a long history. They depend on the fees paid by the parents of present pupils but also on money from property and investments which have inherited in the past. Non-state schools are not LEA (Local Education Authority) controlled but they are registered with the Department of Education and Science and may be inspected by Her Majesty’s Inspectors. Not all independent schools can truthfully call themselves Public Schools — they have to be selected by a conference of heads of well- established Public Schools.

Public schools are criticised for being too elitist and perpetuate the class system. However most people make financial sacrifices also through insurance scheme to send their children to a public school as they believe that would advantage their future. 40% of non-state school are boarding schools where pupils live for three quarters of the year. The change to full secondary education comes later in many public schools at the age of 13. The intellectual level and the standard of teaching in some Public Schools is very high indeed.

School terms The school year is divided into three terms of approximately 13 weeks each. All types of secondary schools have 5 year courses for pupils from 11 up to the school leaving age. Promotion to a higher class every year does not depend upon examination results — it is almost automatic. At the end of the five-year course the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary School) and GCE (A level) exams can be taken. Children in Britain still leave school with no formal leaving examination certificate.

The sixth form Comprehensive and grammar schools have sixth form departments providing one, two or three- year courses. In various schools have combined their sixth forms to make a new and separate Sixth Form College. It offers a wider choice of courses than the individual schools could do.

At the sixth form stage, studies are highly specialized At the sixth form stage, studies are highly specialized. At “A” level only three or four subjects are taken. Examples of groups of subjects taken at “A” Level: English/French/German; Maths/Physics/Chemistry; Geography/History/Economics. Some reforms introduced by the Conservative Party remained under Labour, an example is the creation of a National Curriculum.

teachers As the system is not centralized, teachers are not civil servants, they move freely between state and non-state schools. The individual teacher has wide responsibility inside the classroom for what is taught and how it is taught. The Local Education Authority has full local responsibility for school within the state system. Discipline problems and even physical assaults upon teachers have made the teaching particularly stressful.

university There are 116 universities. These are divided in four types: 1) the old established universities such as Oxford, Cambridge… 2) The 19° century universities “redbrick” such as London, Manchester. 3) the universities established after World War II such as Essex, Lancaster, the new university of Ulster. 4) the new universities created in 1992: polytechnics.

characteristics The old universities consist of a collection of independent colleges. All together they form the university which is governed by a Senate. Some 19th century universities have a combination of independent colleges and research institutes. London University is an example. Other universities were founded after World War II because the demand for higher education had increased. In certain areas of the country existing Colleges of Technology and other further education colleges were combined to form polytechnics. There are now many of them offering courses in the full range of subjects, from engineering to art. The council of National Academic Awards supervises polytechnics examinations and makes sure that a high standards is maintained in all polytechnics.