EDUCATION in GREAT BRITAIN Lecture 6

British system of education has 3 stages Pre-school (nursery) (3-4 year olds) primary (5-11 years of age), secondary (11-16 years of age), higher and further (tertiary) (18 and over)

School education: Compulsory free education at the school level (5% of pupils attend private schools*) Compulsory free education at the school level (5% of pupils attend private schools*) Schools are mostly mixed Schools are mostly mixed It is not strictly centralised, mostly organised by Local Educational Authorities (LEA) It is not strictly centralised, mostly organised by Local Educational Authorities (LEA) Only in 1988 the National Curriculum was introduced in England Only in 1988 the National Curriculum was introduced in England

*Public = Private! Confusing terminology: Public schools ( in the meaning the term is used in the USA and elsewhere in the world ) in Britain are called “state schools” Private schools ( in the meaning it is used in the USA and elsewhere in the world ) in Britain are called “public schools”

National Curriculum In England – consists of core subjects, compulsory for 5-16-year-olds: English, math and sciences and foundation subjects: technology, history, geography, music, art and modern languages In England – consists of core subjects, compulsory for 5-16-year-olds: English, math and sciences and foundation subjects: technology, history, geography, music, art and modern languages In Wales – like in England but Welsh is a core subject in Welsh-speaking schools In Wales – like in England but Welsh is a core subject in Welsh-speaking schools In Scotland – no unified curriculum but educational authorities recommend that schools should follow a broad and balanced curriculum In Scotland – no unified curriculum but educational authorities recommend that schools should follow a broad and balanced curriculum In NI – a compulsory curriculum made up of religious education and 6 broad areas of study. Also includes 4 compulsory cross-cultural themes In NI – a compulsory curriculum made up of religious education and 6 broad areas of study. Also includes 4 compulsory cross-cultural themes

PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC EXAMS: The exams are not set by the government but rather by independent examining boards The exams are not set by the government but rather by independent examining boards The boards publish a separate syllabus for each subject. There is no unified school-leaving exam or school-leaving certificate The boards publish a separate syllabus for each subject. There is no unified school-leaving exam or school-leaving certificate The exams have nothing to do with school years as such. They are divorced from the school system The exams have nothing to do with school years as such. They are divorced from the school system

Categories of public exams GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education. The exams taken by most 15- to 16-year-olds in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education. The exams taken by most 15- to 16-year-olds in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland SCE = Scottish Certificate of Education SCE = Scottish Certificate of Education A-levels = Advanced Levels. Higher-level academic exams set by the same examining boards that set GCSE exams. They are taken mostly by people around 18 who wish to go on to higher education A-levels = Advanced Levels. Higher-level academic exams set by the same examining boards that set GCSE exams. They are taken mostly by people around 18 who wish to go on to higher education SCE ‘Highers’ = The Scottish equivalent of A-level SCE ‘Highers’ = The Scottish equivalent of A-level

The Sixth Form Pupils finish school at 16 Pupils finish school at 16 Universities enroll students no younger that 18 Universities enroll students no younger that 18 Those, who wish to join universities and still under 18, study in the sixth form Those, who wish to join universities and still under 18, study in the sixth form

UNIVERSITIES Oxbridge – th c.c. Oxbridge – th c.c. The old Scottish universities – th c.c.(Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, St.Andrew) The old Scottish universities – th c.c.(Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, St.Andrew) The early 19-th century English universities (Durham Univ., the Univ. of London et al) The early 19-th century English universities (Durham Univ., the Univ. of London et al) The “redbrick” universities (Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds et al) The “redbrick” universities (Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds et al) The newer civic universities ( technical colleges → politechnics→universities) The newer civic universities ( technical colleges → politechnics→universities)

The Open University The pioneer in Distance Education The pioneer in Distance Education Started in 1969 Started in 1969 Study for a degree Study for a degree Courses are taught via TV, radio, the Internet Courses are taught via TV, radio, the Internet The number of students is more than students The number of students is more than students

University Degrees Bachelor’s Degree (BA = B.of Arts Bachelor’s Degree (BA = B.of Arts BS= B.of Sciences) – a first (undergraduate) degree BS= B.of Sciences) – a first (undergraduate) degree  Master’s Degree (MA = M. of Arts MS = M.of Sciences) - a second (graduate) degree  Doctorate – the highest academic qualification (PhD = Doctor of Philosophy)