British Education

Introduction
All children in the U.K. MUST receive a full-time education from the age of 5 to 16.
Compulsory-required; mandatory; obligatory (p. 155)
Education in Britain is compulsory until the age of 16.

State Schools vs. “Public” Schools (p. 155)
State schools are paid for by the government
Government control
“Public” schools are paid for by the students and their families (fees)
More independent than government schools

Primary Education (p.156)
Ages 5-11
Religion, English, Math, Geography, Nature Studies, Hygiene, Art, Music, and Physical Education and Foreign Language
Most students go to the State Schools (95 percent)

Secondary Education (p. 158)
11-16
Grammar Schools
Oldest schools in UK. Top students go these schools
Comprehensive Secondary Schools
Most common type of secondary school (90% of students)
Not as much emphasis placed on test scores
Students may go to “sixth form” (Advanced Level) from the age of 16-18 if they would like to go to university.

“Public” Schools (Secondary) p. 162
Students pay fees (to send a student to a leading school, it may cost 41,000 RMB!)
Uniforms
Shaping character, a focus on classics and science

Gap Year
Many students take a year to figure out what they want to do with their lives
Students spend the year after high school as volunteers or workers in foreign countries

Higher Education (p. 164)
Before 1950, there were less than 20 universities and less than 200,000 students
By the mid-1990’s, Britain had 90 Universities
Now there are 1.1 million students

Oxford and Cambridge Universities
Are called the “Old Universities”
Started in 1167 and 1284 AD
Were the only two universities in England until the 19th century
Oxford is the oldest university in Britain

The “Four” Scottish Universities
St. Andrews University
Glasgow University
University of Aberdeen
Edinburgh University

Middle-Aged Universities
Universities founded between 1830-1930
Often referred to as “red brick” universities

New Universities
Began in the 1960’s
Often referred to as “plate-glass” universities
More “modern” approach
Technical skills, etc.

The Open University (p. 167)
Founded in 1969
Open to everyone
Distance learning-classes are conducted through books, audio, the internet, and DVDs. Classes are not held on a campus!
Over 70% of the students are in full-time employment