Schools in Britain

Schools in Britain

Education in Great Britain is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of 5 and 16.

Nursery schools or

playgroups

Many British children attend a nursery school from the age of 3, but it is not compulsory.

In nursery schools they learn some elementary things such as numbers, colours, and letters.

Apart from that, babies play, have lunch and sleep there.

Primary schools

Primary education lasts for 6 years.

It is divided into two periods: infant schools

(pupils from 5 to 7 years old) and junior schools

(pupils from 7 to 11 years old).

In infant schools children don't have real classes.

They mostly play and learn through playing.

It is the time when children just get acquainted with the classroom,

the blackboard, desks and the teacher.

When pupils are 7, real studying begins.

They do a lot of things in class.

40% of time — English

15% - Physical Education

12% - Art and Technology

They also do Mathematics, Geography and History.

Secondary schools

After six years of primary education children take exams in core subjects and go to a secondary school.

Compulsory secondary education begins when children are 11 or 12 and lasts for 5 years.

Most children go to state comprehensive schools. Parents do not pay for their education. It is free.

There are also about 500 private schools in Great Britain. Most of these schools are boarding ones, where children live as well as study. Education in such schools is very expensive, that's why only 5 per cent of schoolchildren attend them.

The most famous British private schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

Prince William, the Queen’s grandson sat for the entrance exam to Eton College and was admitted. There he studied geography, biology and history of art at A-Level, obtaining an A in geography, a C in biology and a B in history of art.

Secondary school children study English, Mathematics,

Science, History, Art, Geography, Music, a Foreign

language and have lessons of Physical training. Religious

education is also provided. English, Mathematics and

Science are called "core" subjects.

At the age of 7, 11 and 14 pupils take examinations

in the core subjects.

After five years of secondary education, pupils take

GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education)

examination.

60 % of children leave school and go to colleges

for further education.

40 % of pupils study for 2 more years for "A' (Advanced) Level Exams in two or three subjects which is necessary to get a place at one of British universities.

Gap year

Пункт 3

Young people in Britain usually take a gap year when they are about eighteen years old, before going to university. Most of young people use this year for travelling.

Universities usually select students basing on their A-level results and an interview.

The best universities are The University of Oxford, The University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, London Imperial College, London University College.

School year

The school year begins in September. It never begins

on Monday. The English don't think it is good to start

a new thing on Monday, so school usually begins on the

first Tuesday of September.

There are three terms in a school year. When the term

is over, schoolchildren have holidays:

Christmas holidays - 2 weeks

Easter holidays — 2 weeks

Summer holidays — 6 weeks

School day

Pupils usally have five lessons five days a week.

At four o'clock classes are usually over and pupils go home.

Schools offer after school activities such as sports club (swimming, football, netball, etc.) ITC (Information Technology) classes, book clubs, art clubs, drama and music.

There is a long lunch break in the afternoon after the third lesson.

Most children bring their own packed lunch from home. A packed lunch usually consists of sandwiches, fruit, a drink and a packet of crisps.

Marks

A – 90-100 - excellent

B – 80-89 - good

C – 70-79 - satisfactory

D – 60-69 - bad

E – 0-59 - poor

Sometimes «+» (plus) and «-» (minus) are added.

School uniform

Most schools in Britain require children to wear a school uniform.

School uniforms play a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of schools as it can support positive behaviour and discipline, ensure pupils of all races and backgrounds feel welcome, protect children from social pressures to dress in a particular way.

Sport

Sport is important in British schools.

Sports culture is very strong in private schools in the United Kingdom.

The most popular sports are football, basketball, cricket, tennis, rugby.

School rules

Every British school has its rules.

What is bad behaviour?

• not coming to school without permission from parents

• smoking, swearing, hitting

• not doing homework

• cheating in exams

• calling a teacher or another pupil bad names (bullying)

• not listening or not paying attention in lessons

• wearing unsuitable clothes for school

Punishments in UK schools:

• Exclusion: a pupil is excluded from the school and cannot come back.

• Suspension: pupil cannot enter the building or attend lessons until the school has a meeting about his case.

• Detention. This means he or she is asked to stay at school at the end of the school day.

• Lines: a pupil has to write a sentence many times (100 times) on a sheet of paper.

Check yourself

1. Education is compulsory between the ages:

a) 4 and 15 b) 5 and 16 c) 5 and 18

2. Prince William went to:

a) Eton b) Harrow c) Winchester

3. Boarding school means that:

a) It is abroad b) Students live there c) There are only boys there.

4. Core subjects in secondary schools are:

a) English, History, Art b) Art, Technology, PE c) English, Maths, Science.

5. There are … terms in a school year:

a) 3 b) 4 c) 5

Check yourself

Age

Type of School

3-5

5-7

7-11

11-16

16-18