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Education and work
The British education system
Children usually start primary school at the Exams
age of five and move on to secondary school at
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland pupils
eleven. Compulsory education ends at sixteen but
take GCSEs at the age of 16. At 17 they take AS
many students stay on until they are eighteen to
levels and the following year A2 levels. AS and A2
gain further qualifications.
levels together form A levels, which are needed for
entrance to university. Scotland has a different
Secondary schools
system with exams called National Qualifications.
Students sit exams at Standard Grade at about 16
Most secondary schools are comprehensive
and progress to other levels such as Intermediate
schools. They offer a general education to
1, Intermediate 2, Higher or Advanced Higher.
children of all abilities. There are grammar
Students in their final year do their highers.
schools in some parts of the country. They
select their pupils according to ability and
age
Nursery School
year
aim to provide a more academic education.
5
1
Education in Britain is free, and most children
6
go to state schools. However, some parents pay 2
Primary
7
to send their children to independent schools.
3 School
8
In England and Wales some of the more
4
9
traditional independent schools are called public
5
schools, though they are in fact private. Many (in some areas)
10
of these are boarding schools, where children 6
11
Middle
live and sleep during term.
7
School
12
8
13
The curriculum
9
14
Secondary
The national curriculum is the group of
10
15 School
subjects that must be taught in schools in
11
England and Wales. The core subjects are English, 16
12
Mathematics and Science. The non-core subjects
17
are History, Geography, Modern Foreign
13
18
Languages, Art and Design, Music, Design and
[ [
Technology, Information and Communication
College of
Technology, PE and Citizenship. Higher education:
Further Education
University/
(general, vocational
College of Art, Music,
and technical)
Education, etc.
This chart shows how education is organized in
England and Wales. The system is a little different in
Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The American education system
Schools Assessment
Education is compulsory in the US for children There are no national exams, although some
between the ages of 6 and 16. schools and states have their own exams. Students
receive grades based on how well they do in tests,
Most children go to public schools, which are
in classroom discussions and in their homework
free. (Don t confuse them with British public
throughout the year. If students want to go on to
schools!) There are some private schools, which
higher education, most colleges and universities
charge fees, as well as parochial schools, which
require them to take the SAT (Scholastic
are supported by local religious organizations
Aptitude Test).
and churches.
11 years compulsory education