Education in Britain

Pre-school Nursery schools Age 3 – 5

Not usually free

Primary Infant & Junior schools Age 5 – 11

Most schools are mixed

Secondary Comprehensive schools Age 11 – 16/18

Grammar schools

Most schools are mixed, some are single-sex

Tertiary Colleges of futher education Age 16 plus

Universities Age 18 plus

Open University Any age

NB. Over 90% of pupils attend state schools.

Some areas still operate a three-tier system with Lower, Middle & Upper schools.

A very small number of children are educated at home.

The private Sector (Fee-paying schools)

Prep schools Private or Independent schools public schools

Boarding schools

These schools usually have shorter terms and smaller classes. Living conditions at boarding schools are often not that comfortable and rules are often stricter than in state schools.

The School Year

In state schools, there is a five-day week with no half-day. Classes start between 8 & 9. They usually end between 3 & 4.

Terms: Autumn September – Christmas (2 weeks holiday at Christmas)

Spring January – Easter (2 weeks holiday)

Summer Easter – end of July (6 weeks holiday)

Text 1

Introduction

Raising educational standards, reducing the effect of social exclusion and opening opportunities for lifelong learning are central to the education agenda in Britain. The Government wants to see a successful society with a competitive economy built on the talents and skills of all.

The philosophy behind the Government’s approach is that:

- every child should get the basics of literacy and numeracy right early on, through good teaching in early years education and primary schools;

- different children move at different speeds and have different abilities;

- parents and local communities are fully and effectively involved in the education of their children;

- there must be effective partnership at local level to help schools work together towards the common goal of higher standards.

The Department for Education and Emlpoyment (DfEE) is the Government Department responsible for policy on education and training in England. The Government helps set the framework for the education and training system and works in partnership with other central and local bodies to implement those policies. It also provides funds for many of the public bodies involved in education and training.

The Government provides leadership and strategic direction and retains an important role in planning, funding, quality control and the provision of advice and guidance. But within this framework many decisions are taken at local level.

Early Years Pre-Compulsory Education

The government is committed to high quality nursery education, child care and family support.

Many children under five attend state nursery schools or nursery classes attached to primary schools. Others may attend playgroups in the voluntary sector or in privately run nurseries. In England and Wales, many primary schools also operate an early admission policy where they admit children under five into what is called reception classes.

Nursery provision for three-year-olds in the state sector is funded by Local Education Authorities while places for children under three in voluntary or private pre-school settings are paid for largely by parents.

State Schools

The majority of pupils – over 90 per cent – go to publicly funded schools usually known as state schools. These make no charges to parents. In most areas children aged five to ten attend primary schools, and move on to secondary schools at 11 for education up to the age of 16 or beyond. Primary schools usually have both girls and boys as pupils; secondary schools may be either single-sex or co-educational.

At present there are a number of different categories of schools in England and Wales:

- County schools are wholly owned and maintained by Local Education Authorities (LEAs).

- Voluntary schools (voluntary-aided schools, voluntary controlled schools) are provided by voluntary bodies, the majority of which are churches or bodies associated with churches. They are also financed and maintained by LEAs but the assets of the schools are held and administered by trustees.

- Grant-maintained schools are funded by central government through the Funding Agency for Schools.

Individual schools maintained by LEAs may apply to central government for grant-maintained status.

- Special schools are provided by LEAs for certain children with special educational needs, though the great majority are educated in ordinary schools.

Primary Schools

In primary schools the first two years, beginning at the age of five are spent on informal development of expression and ability to concentrate. Often children stay with the same teacher all the time for this whole ‘infant’ period. More formal ‘junior level’ teaching begins at the age of seven, though at this age there is more concern with making children interested than with traditional instruction. Competitiveness in the learning process is not encouraged, though there is now a reaction against extreme permissiveness, and in favour of increased attention to the teaching of basic skills and knowledge.

Secondary Schools

About 90 per cent of state secondary school pupils go to comprehensive schools. These take children of all abilities and provide a wide range of secondary education for all or most of the children in a district within 11 to 18-year range.

About four per cent of students go to grammar schools, state schools which only take students who pass an examination at the age of 11. Grammar schools offer a mainly academic education for the 11 to 18-year group.

Six per cent of children attend secondary modern schools which provide more general education up to the age of 16.