Vocabulary List

schooling обучение, учеба	to take/to pass exams сдавать/сдать экзамены
education/higher education образование/ высшее образование	grant/scholarship грант/стипендия
compulsory обязательный	to attend classes посещать занятия
primary school начальная школа	to admit зачислять, принимать
secondary school средняя школа	term семестр
comprehensive school общеобразовательная школа	governing body руководство, административный совет
state/ public (private) school государственная/частная школа	to be responsible for быть ответственным за что-либо
to stream делить на потоки	recruitment набор, наем
to study/to learn изучать, учиться / учить, узнавать	staff штат служащих, служебный персонал, личный состав, кадры
boarding school закрытая школа, школа-интернат	authorities власти, начальство, администрация
to leave/finish school заканчивать школу	tuition fee/payment плата за обучение
to enter the institute поступать в институт	to major in специализироваться на (профилирующей) дисциплине
to graduate from the institute заканчивать институт	science наука
applicant кандидат, соискатель	knowledge знания
to found основывать	degree ученая степень
to establish учреждать	to provide обеспечивать
research исследование, исследовательская работа	facilities оборудование, приспособления
thesis диссертация	credit test зачет
to obtain получать, приобретать	course paper курсовая работа
curriculum расписание, учебный план	distance learning дистанционное обучение

TEXT 1. Read and translate the text. Make a scheme and speak on the contents.

The School System in Great Britain

Education in Britain is compulsory and free for all children from the age of 5 till 16. Most of them are educated in state schools. But England also has a tradition of independent schooling (private schools).

Primary school is the first stage of compulsory education. Schoolchildren attend it for 6 years (from the age of 5 till 11) and study general subjects. Often primary school in the UK is divided into infant school (the first two years) and junior school (the following 4 years). SATS (Standard Assessment Tests) are given at the age of 6, 9 and 13. They are used to show a pupil's progress. SATS results, together with the teacher's assessment are used to stream a child at secondary school.

Secondary school lasts for 5 years (from the age of 11 till 16). English secondary schools are mostly comprehensive. They admit pupils of all abilities. The main subjects for all pupils are English, Mathematics and Science. History, Citizenship, Geography, Information and Communication Technology, Art and Design, Design and Technology, Modern Foreign Languages, Music and Physical Education are considered to be foundation subjects. Pupils normally take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams by the age of 16, but may also choose to work towards the attainment of alternative qualifications, such as the GNVQ (General National Vocational Qualification). At the age of 16 pupils may leave schools and get jobs or continue studying.

The term Sixth Form is used to describe the last two years of the schooling system in the UK (from the age of 16 till 18). The most ambitious pupils study three or four main subjects which are necessary to pass A-Levels (Advanced Level Exams) at the age of 18 and prepare themselves for universities.

State schools are almost all day schools, holding classes between Mondays and Fridays. The school year normally begins in early September and continues into the following July. The year is divided into three terms of about 13 weeks each.

Every state school has its own governing body (a board of governors), consisting of teachers, parents, local politicians, businessmen and members of the local community. Boards of governors are responsible for their school’s main policies, including the recruitment of the staff.

A great role is played by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Practically all parents are automatically members of the PTA and are invited to take part in its many activities.

Three partners are responsible for the education service: central government – the Department of Education and Science (DES), local education authorities (LEAs), and schools themselves.

TEXT 2. Read and translate. Be ready to discuss.