Topic: education
Libraries full of books have been written on the education system in Britain, but recently it has been changing considerably.
Compulsory education begins at 5, and children attend primary school until they are 11. Normally the primary school is divided into Infants (5—7) and Juniors (7—11).
At the age of 11 most children go to a comprehensive school where they stay until they are 16. In the past children went to different types of secondary schools, but in most parts of the country everybody now goes to a comprehensive.
Some parents, who do not want their children to go to a comprehensive pay to send them to a private school. The most expensive and prestigious private schools are actually called public schools.
At the age of 16 people take their examinations. Most take General Certificate of Education (G.С.E.). Ordinary Levels — normally called just 'O' Levels. People take 'O' Levels in as many subjects as they want to; some take one or two, others take as many as nine or ten.
If you get good 'O' Level results, you can stay on at school until you are 18, in the Sixth Form. Here you prepare for Advanced Level Exams ('A' Levels). Again, you take as many of these as you want to, but most people take two or three.
In case you pass your exams well you have a chance of going on to university though this is not automatic. The number of people who study there is strictly controlled. Other types of further education are offered at polytechnics and colleges of higher education. Polytechnics offer the chance to study subjects in a more practical way, and many colleges of higher education specialize in teacher training.6
(See: Johnson K. and Morrow K. Approaches. Cambridge, 1979)
Text a. Higher education and teacher training in great britain
Nowadays teacher training in Great Britain is realized at universities, polytechnics and colleges of higher education.7 Students working for their first degree at university are called undergraduates. When they take their degree we say that they graduate and then they are called graduates. If they continue studying at university after they have graduated, they are called post-graduates. In general, the first degree of Bachelor is given to students who pass examinations at the end of three or four years of study.
Further study or research is required at the mode-n universities for the first post-graduate degree of Master, and at all British universities for that of Doctor.
In Britain full-time university students (students who spend all their time studying and have no other employment), have three terms of about ten weeks in each year.8
University teaching combines lectures given by professors, readers or lecturers,9 practical classes (in scientific subjects) and small group teaching in seminars or tutorials.
The course of study for intending teachers is based upon compulsory and optional subjects.
The Programme usually consists of three core components: School-based experience, Subject studies and Education studies.10
Theory of Education is one of the main subjects. At the end of the first or second year students are to make their choice as to the age-range of children they wish to prepare to teach.
Junior students go into schools for one day each week, watching experienced teachers at work. They take part in the life of the school, help with games, societies or play productions.
Senior students spend fifteen weeks on teaching practice. They learn the use of different educational aids, audio-visual facilities, observe lessons and take an active part in discussing them with a supervisor (tutor) on school practice.
Examinations are held at the end of each term. Final examinations (or finals) are taken at the end of the course.
(See: Tibbits E. L. Exercises in Reading Comprehension. Longman, 1974)