Great Britain
Types of people: Nursery under 5 years
Infant 5 – 7 years
Junior 7 – 11 years
Senior 11- 16 plus
Further education 16 plus
University 18 plus
1. Primary and Secondary education
Every person between the age of 5 and 16 receives full time education. The attendance is compulsory and free of charge. The schools are mixed, boys and girls are taught together. The primary schools are non-selective.
There are two types of Secondary schools. A majority of students chooses the first type, the so-called Comprehensive[1] school. The second type is the Grammar school. It teaches students from the age of 11 up to 18 years and provides academic education. This type is selective, students have to pass an entrance examination.
2. Public schools (private)
These schools offer private education. 7 – 8 % of British students attend public schools. The best-known examples of such institutions are e.g. Eton or Harrow. These schools are quite expensive, but students can get scholarships[2] there. Before the students enter this school, they usually attend preparatory school between the ages of 8 and 13.
3. The National Curriculum[3]
It was published in the year 1989. It is aimed at increasing the knowledge of pupils in England and Wales in the ages from 5 to 16. Its main purpose is to raise students, extend the parental choice, give schools greater responsibilities, and put emphasis[4] on the national knowledge. It set the core[5] subjects as English, Mathematics, and Science, and other basic[6] subjects: Technology, History, Geography, Music, Art, Physical education, and Modern foreign languages. From the age of 5 up to 14, all students must study nine subjects, and then from the age of 11 up to 14 they must add a modern language.
4. Key stages 1. Infant - up to 7 years
2. Junior - 7 – 11 years
3. Pre-GCSE - 11 – 14 years
4. Preparation for GCSE - 14 – 16
5. Education from the age of 14
From the age of 14 to 16, the students have 3 core subjects: Technology, a modern language, and Physical education. In Wales they also have history, geography, and their language – Welsh.
6. Examination
At the age of 16 or more the students take and exam called the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). The compulsory[7] subjects are English, Science, and Mathematics.
7. The higher courses
At the age of 18 the students have to pass an entrance examination for higher education called the A – level. There is also a newer type of examination, which is called Advanced Supplementary. This examination is for people aged 16 or over and it enables them to increase the number of studied subjects.
8. Exceptions in Scotland
There are only two major exceptions to the facts stated above in Scotland. Secondary schools are called Public schools and the pupils move to the Secondary schools at the age of 12, not 11.
9. Higher education
Higher education in Britain is available at Universities and institutions for higher education. Britain has 47 Universities (including the Open University). The oldest Universities are in Oxford and Cambridge (12th – 14th century). The Scottish universities St Andrews, Glasgow, and Aberdeen date back to the 14th and 15th century.
10. UCLES
This is the abbreviation of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. It was established in 1858 by the Cambridge University. It sets standards of efficiency[8] for schools. It was also extended overseas, in our country it is promoted by the British Council.
11. University system
The first degree takes 3 – 4 years (medical – 5 years). The main qualifications are B.A. – Bachelor of Arts and B.Sc. – Bachelor of Science. It is typical that students who are studying subjects such as engineering spend some time in an industrial location so that they get some experience. The degrees depend on the results achieved in a three-hour examination and practical work in the core subject. The degrees are divided into first class, second class upper and lower, and third class.
The British Universities also offer the so-called sandwich courses. They are made for people who want to study while working. Some students continue their studies for the degrees of Master of Art, Master of Science, or Master of Philosophy. This takes 1 or 2 more years. A minority[9] of students goes on further in their studies and they obtain the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
[1] ) všeobecný
[2] ) stipendium
[3] ) osnova
[4] ) důraz
[5] ) jádro, hlavní
[6] ) základ, základní
[7] povinný
[8] efektivita, výkonnost
[9] ) menšina
Žádné komentáře:
Okomentovat