Text 4 Secondary Education

1

Secondary education is compulsory for all up to the age of 16. There are different types of secondary schools: grammar, technical, modern and comprehensive schools.

Grammar Schools take only children who have good results of the “1 plus examination (11+)”. It is an examination for children of 11 years old or a little older (eleven plus some months). It consists of an arithmetic paper, an English paper, and an intelligence test.

Grammar schools give academic education for the selected pupils from the age of 11 to 18, and prepare them for higher education. The general level of education in these schools is very high. The schools teach English language and Literature, modern languages, Latin, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography and other subjects.

Technical Schools as well as grammar schools educate selective pupils. But they are specialized in technical studies. The main subjects are Science and Mathematics.

Secondary Modern Schools give a general, non-academic education up to the minimum school leaving age of 16. After finishing these schools pupils cannot enter higher educational establishments.

Comprehensive Schools are the most popular schools in Britain today (especially in England and Wales). These schools take all the children in a given area without selecting examination. At the same time they offer all the courses taught in the three traditional schools Described above — academic and practical subjects. So comprehensive schools are much bigger than the latter.

Comprehensive schools take the following age ranges: from 11 to 18 (after primary schools), from 12, 13 or 14 to 18 years (after middle schools), and from 11 to 16 years.

All state schools have a National Curriculum. It consists of 10 subjects which all the children must study at school. The subjects are English, Mathematics, Science, a modern foreign language (for 11-16-year-olds), Technology and Design, History, Geography, Music, Art, Physical Education. Pupils' progress in subjects is measured by written and practical tests.

The National Curriculum aims to ensure that all children study basic subjects and have a better all-round education.

After 5 years of secondary education pupils take principal examinations for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). After a further two years of study pupils take the GCE Advanced (A) level.

Vocabulary

advanced — повышенный

curriculum — учебный план

ensure – обеспечивать, гарантировать

establishment — учреждение, заведение

intelligence —умственное развитие

latter — последний (из вышеназванных)

offer — предлагать, предоставлять

principal — главный, основной

science — естественные науки

Written Exercises to the Texts

1. Translate the sentences with the words of the Vocabulary into Russian.

2. find in the texts the English equivalents for:

1) продолжительность обязательного школьного образования составляет 11 лет; 2) они могут продолжать свое образование ...; 3) по закону; 4) обучение в государственных школах бесплатное; 5) родители должны (вынуждены) платить за ...; 6) оплата варьируется от ...до ...; 7) в большинстве школ ...; 8) начальная школа может делиться на ...; 9) в одиннадцать лет; 10) после окончания курса начальной школы; 11) обязательное для всех ...; 12) или немного старше; 13) общий уровень образования; 14) эти школы обучают ...; 15) не могут поступать в высшие учебные учреждения; 16) без отборочных экзаменов; 17) всестороннее образование.