Text “Education in Great Britain”

There are many different types of school in Britain. There are, however, only three main systems: The comprehensive system. More than 90% of children who go to state schools in England and Wales go to schools in the comprehensive system - a system introduced in the 1960s. Children go to a primary (or first) school at the age of five. Depending on the policy of the Local Education Authority, they may go directly to the upper school - usually called the comprehensive school - at the age of 11. Alternatively, they may go to a middle school for three or four years before going to the upper school. The comprehensive system is non-selective. This means that all children go from one school to another without taking any exams, and without being selected according to their abilities.

The selective system. In some areas of Britain, you can still find a different, and older, system of education (introduced in 1944). This is a selective system- children are selected for certain schools according to their ability. All children go to a primary school until the age of 11. Then they take an examination called the 11-plus. Those who are successful go to a grammar school, where they receive a more academic education. Those who fail the exam go to a secondary modern school, where they receive an education which is less academic, and more intended to train them for a job when they leave at the age of 16.

The private (independent) system. About 7% of children go to private schools. There are three levels of private school - primary schools (age four to eight) and preparatory ( prep ) schools ( eight to 13 ). At the age of 13, children take an examination. If they pass, they go on to public school, where they usually remain until they are 18. Many prep and public schools are boarding schools - the children live at the school during the school terms. Although these schools are called "public", they are, in fact, private, and it can be very expensive to send your child to such a school.

Within the three systems, there are several varieties of schools. For instance, schools for boys only, schools for girls only, mixed schools - for boys and girls, voluntary schools - often with a religious background - such as Roman Catholic schools. You can see that the British education system is rather confusing

Examinations

The public examinations taken by British schoolchildren are: GCSEs (the General Certificate of Secondary Education). Pupils usually take their GCSEs at the age of 16. Some children take three or four; others take as many as ten or eleven.

Pupils who have passed their GCSEs may remain at school for another two years and take their "A" level exams. All grammar and most comprehensive schools have a sixth form, where pupils study for their "A" levels. Any student who wants to go to university needs to pass at least two or three "A" levels.

Vocabulary

comprehensive system – єдина система (об’єднує існуючі в Англії три види шкіл)

comprehensive school – єдина школа

primary (first) school – початкова школа

upper school – середня школа

middle school – середня школа

authority – влада, орган управління

selective – відбірковий, відбірний

to select – відбирати, обирати

ability – здібність

academic education – академічна освіта (теоретична, відірвана від практики)

to intend – мати намір, призначати

to remain – залишатися

boarding school – школа-інтернат, пансіон, закритий навчальний заклад

voluntary school – приватна або платна школа, яка існує за благодійні кошти

background – освіта, підготовка

confusing – змішана, заплутана

the General Certificate of secondary Education (GCSE) – атестат про повне закінчення середньої школи

Advanced level (“A”) – вищий рівень

grammar school – середня школа (в Британії)

secondary modern school – середня сучасна школа (у Британії для дітей від 11 до 16 р.)

preparatory school – приватна початкова школа (для дітей від 6 до 13 р., готує до вступу у престижну середню школу)

public school – привілейований приватний навчальний заклад (в Британії)

Exercise 1

Answer the questions

1. What are there main systems of education in Great Britain?

2. When was comprehensive system introduced in England and Wales?

3. When do children go to a primary (first) school?

4. Where do they go after that?

5. What is non-selective system of education?

6. When was selective system introduced?

7. What is selective system of education?

8. Who goes to the grammar school?

9. Who goes to the secondary modern school?

10. What are the levels of private system of education?

11. What is boarding school?

12. What are other varieties of schools in Britain?

Exercise 2

Find English equivalents in the text

Різні типи шкіл, єдина система шкіл, державні школи, початкова школа, освітній орган управлінні, середня школа, невибіркова система, здавати екзамени, відбирати відповідно до здібностей, відбіркова система, британська середня школа, отримувати більш академічну освіту, провалити іспит, середня сучасна школа, готувати до роботи, приватна школа, три рівні, школа-інтернат, дуже дорогo, направити навчатися, приватна школа, котра існує за благодійні кошти.

Exercise 3

Guess the types of schools, using the tips below

A school for children between five and eleven years old in England. – It is … … .

School established for making money and providing proper education. – It is … …

The classes of a school in Britain that are for older pupils? Usually aged 14 to 18. – It is … … .

A school in Britain for children between the ages of 8 and 12. – It is … … .

State school in Britain for pupils of different abilities over the age of 11. – It is … …

A school in Britain for children over the age of 11 who have to pass a special examination to go there. – It is … … .

A type of school that existed in Britain until the 1960s, where children who were thought not to be the most intelligent were sent. – It is … … .

A private British school, paid for by parents, where children usually live as well as study. – It is … … .

A private school in Britain for children between the ages of 8 and 13. – It is … … .

Preparatory school, public school, primary school, private school, secondary modern school, grammar school, upper school, middle school, comprehensive school.

Exercise 4

Complete the sentences

1. There are different types … …. . 2. More than 90% of children go to the … … in Britain and Wales. 3. Children go to the … … at the age of … . 4. Depending on the policy of the Local Educational Authority the children may go to the … or … … . 5. The comprehensive system is … . 6. Selective system was … … . 7. Children are selected to school s according to … …. . 8. All children go to the … … . 9. Then they take 11plus examination. Those who are successful … …. . Those who fail go … …. .10. There are three levels of private schools … … .

Exercise 5

Translate into English

1.У Великій Британії існують різні типи шкіл та різні освітні системи. 2. У Британії більшість дітей ходить до шкіл єдиної системи. 3. Єдина система - невибіркова. 4. Діти переходять з однієї школи до іншої не складаючи жодних іспитів. 5. У школах вибіркової системи дітей відбирають згідно їх здібностей. 6. В 11 років вони складають іспит. 7. Ті, хто склали, йдуть у середню школу, де отримують більш академічну освіту. 8. Ті діти, які провалили іспит, йдуть до середньої сучасної школи, де вони отримують менш академічну освіту. 9. Приватні школи мають три рівні. 10. У багатьох приватних школах діти живуть і навчаються протягом шкільних чвертей.