1. Education:
(earlier – there were schools led by the church),
1870 free compulsory education started:
children aged 5-10,
secondary schools (students didn’t pay for it; there were grants for students from the government),
private or town schools,
1979 state schools and private schools appeared,
school leaving age:
14,
15,
16 – now,
law was passed and there will be school leaving age 18 since 2015.
2. Secondary system:
before 1980:
there was ’11 + exam’,
grammar schools (for the best students who want to continue their education – who pass ’11 + exam’; there is education much higher level; in some areas these schools remained),
secondary modern (for students who were not good on the ’11 + exam’ – with low results),
technical (for students with a specific interests),
since 1980:
there is no exam,
comprehensive schools (schools for everybody: good or bad students),
there are also grammar schools in some areas.
3. Examination system:
at 16 (you can end education at this age):
General Certificate of Education at „0” level (students chose subjects: it was only an exam and onle the grades of the exam were counted),
Certificate of Secondary Education (two years more, for those who want to continue education; there is no „0” level now; those who don’t want to study more, they can go to work),
at 18:
General Certificate of Education at „A” level (students choose 3 to 4 subjects and the grade of this exam is counted to get a place at university).
4. Examination system since 1986:
General Certificate of Secondary Education:
students choose from 5 to 8 subjects and not only this exam is counted,
the grade which you have includes 3 things:
the exam,
the course work,
the project work,
then students can end their education or continue it,
General Certificate of Education at „A” level:
students choose from 3 to 4 subjects and only the grade of this exam is counted to get a place at university.
5. National Curriculum: it is a national program of study:
1988: it was introduced for whole country – one fixed rules:
what courses:
3 core subjects:
- English,
- Maths,
- Science,
6 foundation subjects:
- Technology & Design,
- History,
- Geography,
- Music,
- Art,
- PE, + religion education, + foreign language from the age of 11,
what level (there were levels of subjects; in each subject students should get each level of knwoledge) – there are 10 levels – last at age of 16,
assessment: there are four stages of tests:
7, 11, 14 -> internal exams,
16 – external exam.
6. State schools:
primary:
5-7: infant schools (without different teachers),
7-11: junior schools (with teachers who teach different subjects),
secondary:
11-16: (after that, they have General Certificate of Secondary Education and they decide if they want to study more):
comprehensive schools (they are for everybody),
grammar schools (they are for the best students),
16-18:
Sixth Form (for students who want to prepare for „A” level exam which is need to enter university),
Sixth Form College,
Youth Training Scheme,
Colleges of Further Education (if you are thinking about being teacher in the future, you can go there).
7. Further Education:
responsibility of local governments (it is organised by them; no degree, just certificate/dyploma),
beyond the age of 18,
fees for tuition (further education is paid but students can get grants from the local authorities),
some 16-year-olds can choose to go to a college of further education and study more practical subjects such as hairdressing, mechanic, etc.; the courses are on different levels:
courses:
lower level (courses for some jobs like electrician, plumbers, etc.):
apprenticeships schemes,
colleges of further education,
technical colleges,
middle level: colleges of technology,
higher level: specialized colleges (they have some courses which have degree level like at the univeristy).
8. Univeristies: they end with degree; central government is responsible for them:
Oxford and Cambridge = OXBRIDGE:
they were founded at the Middle Ages,
they are different from others,
they are federations of semi-independent colleges,
they are residential (students can live there),
there is tutorial system (the tutor is responsible for 1 or 2 students – he gives them advice, helps them),
exams and lectures are organised by the universities,
„Redbrick” universities: (for example London University):
they were founded in 19th century – it was time of Industrial Revolution and specialized people were need – stress is put on science,
they appeared mainly in Industrial towns and they are divided into departments,
they are for local people,
they aren’t residential,
Campus univerisites (they started at 16th century; they are residental):
they appeared at countryside – near towns in 1960s,
they are residential,
they are for people all over the country,
there are seminars (small groups),
they emphasize on new disciplines,
Polytechnics = new univeristies:
they were founded in 1960s/1970s,
they are technical colleges,
they were created by joining the best specialized colleges – set up by local authorities,
they are for local people,
there are „Sandwich” courses – flexibility with regard to studying arrangement (they are periods of study during periods of working),
The Open University:
they originated in 1970s (when Labour Party was in power),
students can participate in lectures bu TV or radio and at the end they get degree.
9. Degrees:
Bachelor’s (3 years of full time studies, and it ends with the exam):
Bachelor of Arts,
Bachelor of Science,
Master’s (2 years of studying, and it ends with exam = you write a master thesis),
Doctor’s (it is not regular studying: there are some courses, exams but it is mainly research work):
Doctor of Philosophy.
10. What t should you do to become a teacher:
primary school teacher:
College of Further Education (no higher education, not univeristy, you get diploma),
secondary school teacher:
after 3 years at univeristy: Bachelor of Art., Bachelor of Science,
and then you need also pedagogical course (at least 1 year): Bachelor of Education.