Education in Great Britain

Education in Great Britain

In Great Britain education is compulsory for all children from 5 to 16 years of age. Before 5

some children attend Nursery Schools, while most children start their basic education in an

Infant School, which is the first stage of Primary Education. In Primary School children are

taught the so-called 3R’s- reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as elementary science and

information technology. They also have music, physical training and art classes.

At the age of 11 children transfer to Comprehensive Schools. These schools give general

education and a wide range of academic courses leading to the public examinations taken at 16.

They also provide some vocational courses.

Along with the state schools there are about 500 private schools in Britain. Most of these

Independent or Public Schools charge fees and there are boarding schools, where the children

actually live in the school.

Any child may leave school at 16 when all children take the school- leaving examinations and

get a certificate of secondary education. Those who want to continue their education at a

University have to stay on at school for two more years and take another exam ( at advanced

level). Advanced level examination is very important, because on the results of this examination

the Universities and Polytechnics choose their students, as there are no entrance examinations.

The leading universities in England are Oxford, Cambridge and London. Each University

consists of a number of faculties: medicine, arts (philosophy), law, music, natural science,

commerce and education. After 3 years of study, a student receives a Bachelor’s degree. Some

may continue their studies for 2 or more years to get the degrees of Master and Doctor.

Besides universities, there are other types of higher educational institutions: Polytechnics and

Colleges of different kinds.

Answer the questions:

1. At what age do all children start their basic education in Great Britain?

2. What subjects are taught in Primary School?

3. What is the difference between a state and a private school?

4. What is the first school-leaving age in Britain?

5. How do Universities and Polytechnics choose their students?

6. What are the most famous English Universities?