Educational system in Great Britain

Boarding school
In the UK, you will find a huge variety of schools. A common type of school in the U - a Boarding School, in which students learn and live.
The first boarding schools in Britain appeared in the early Middle Ages, mainly in monasteries. In the XII century the Pope ordered all Benedictine monasteries to open schools in the mansions of charity. Later, education has to be paid.
While the aristocratic family preferred the monastic schools, home schooling, over time, spread the belief that for young people is more useful to learn with their peers.
This belief became the foundation for the organization of privileged boarding school, where form the elite of modern British society for more than a thousand years. The British boarding schools are in the list of the most expensive and prestigious schools in the world.

Full-cycle schools where children of all ages from 2 to 18 years.
The classification by age
In infant schools (ages 5-7), the main emphasis is on basic literacy and numeracy - learning to read and write and basic arithmetic.
Infant school also known as nurseries and kindergartens for children from 2 to 7 years. Here are taught to read, write, count, and develop through play.

Facilities for younger students (Junior Schools) - for children aged 7 to 13 years. Here, children are a special initial common cycle training in various subjects, which ends the exam Common Entrance Examination. Successful completion of the exam - a requirement for admission to high school.
In Junior schools are required to teach: English, Mathematics, Science, Information Technology (Computers), Religious Education, Design and Technology, History, Geography, Art, Music and Physical Education.

Facilities for older students (Senior Schools) - for teens 13 to 18 years. Here, children are first two-year study for the exams GCSE, followed by another two-year program: A-Level or International Baccalaureate. (Secondary school - education for children under the age of 11 years. Grammar school - education for children under the age of 11 years of in-depth program. In these schools can receive training to university (Sixth Form).
Schools in preparation for the universities (Sixth Form) - for older teens ages 16-18.

The classification by sex
Mixed schools - where boys and girls learn.
Schools for girls - where only girls are taught
The arguments for this form of learning are the next:
girls are developing physically and emotionally
a little faster than boys.
groups of girls are better organized and focused on learning.
love does not distract from learning.
School for boys - where only boys are taught.
The arguments for a separate study of boys :
Boys are naturally more mobile and active, and they need more sports and games for normal growth
Competitive environment is necessary for self-expression and active development.

Professional and higher education
After passage A-levels courses students
can receive either professional, or higher education.
Professional education (Further education — FE) includes courses of vocational training and some courses for receiving the higher education (degree of the bachelor).
The term "professional education" is used for the name of courses for those who left school at the age of 16 years. In Great Britain is more than 600 state and private colleges of further education.
These educational institutions offer various programs of training, including English language courses, programs of preparation for obtaining the general certificate on secondary education, professional courses.

Higher education (Higher education — HE) includes programs on reception of degree of the bachelor, and also a magistracy, doctor's degree. The term "higher education" means learning at universities, colleges and institutes which offer reception of scientific or doctor's degree.
Concerning higher education Great Britain traditionally occupies 2 or 3 position in the international ratings of high schools.

The most famous UK universities
Oxford

University of Cambridge

Royal Holloway, University of London
University college London

Payment for the education
The higher education paid and for the citizens, and for foreigners. To the last - is more expensive. Citizens of the country study on credit which start to give after obtaining the diploma and employment with minimum salary of 21 thousand pounds a year.
If it doesn't occur, to repay a debt it is not necessary. Recently in parliament more and more deputies want to increase training cost. Such initiatives aren't popular among students.