Private Education in Great Britain

Seven per cent of British schoolchildren go to private schools. They are not run by the government and parents pay for their children to attend them. Most private schools are boarding schools; the children live there during the school year.

The most famous private schools have a long history and tradition. It is often necessary to put a child’s name on a waiting list at birth to be sure he or she gets a place. Children of aristocratic and wealthy families often go to the same private school as their parents and grandparents.

Eton is the largest and most prestigious public school in Britain. It was founded by King Henry VI in 1440. Lots of famous British people were educated in Eton. Eton is a boarding school where boys live and study away from home. With its combination of excellent teachers and small classes, Eton gives its students a very good education. A personal tutor looks after the progress of every boy. When students leave Eton, they usually go to top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

Although the college looks old-fashioned, it is very well-equipped and has state-of-the-art laboratories. Every boy has a lap-top computer, and a network connects all classrooms and all boys’ bedrooms to the Internet.

The academic year starts at the end of September and has three terms. The year finishes with the exams in early June.

Languages are very important at Eton. Every boy takes at least two modern languages chosen from French, German, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. Students also study Latin for a year and many choose to study Greek as well.

There are about 50 societies and clubs at Eton. Whatever your interest – music, photography, design, astronomy, computing, electronics, stamp collecting, cinema – there will be a club for you. The college has a fantastic art school, a music school with many bands, orchestras and choirs and even its own recording studio. Eton is famous for its theatre. Every third year there is School Play Festival for the performance of new plays written by boys and teachers. As well as acting, writing, and directing, boys build the sets and make lighting and sound effects for the shows.

Senior students may take part in military training. Both Prince William and Prince Harry were members of Eton cadet forces.

The college is very strong in the area of sports. Students can do 30 different sports including rugby, football, cricket, rowing, hockey, basketball, swimming and many others.

The discipline at Eton is very strict and the author Evelyn Waugh once said, ‘anyone who has been to an English public school will feel comparatively at home in prison’.

TEXT 3. Read and translate. Be ready to discuss.

Higher Education in Great Britain

In early centuries Oxford and Cambridge were the only universities in the UK. They were founded in the Medieval period and dominated the British education.

By the middle of the 19^th century two more universities were formed: the University of London and the University of Durham. After that Redbrick universities were founded in the major industrial cities of England (Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol and Manchester). They were initially established as civic science or engineering colleges and gave mostly technological training for the poorer boys. So the division between Oxbridge and Redbrick universities was a class one.

In the middle of the 20^th century the so-called Plate Glass Universities were built and universities founded after 1992 are called the New Universities.

Higher education in the UK is represented by colleges, institutes and universities. All British universities are private institutions. Institutions vary in size, mission and the range of subjects taught as well as the different concentration on teaching or research. Universities' governing bodies are responsible for the effective management, future strategy, planning and monitoring of the institution. Although they receive financial support from the state, the Department of Education and Science has no control over their regulations, curriculum, examinations, appointment of staff.

Students have to pay fees and living costs, but every student may obtain a personal grant from local authorities. It depends on the income of the student’s parents. If the parents do not earn much money, their children will receive a full grant which will cover all the expenses.

Students studying for first degrees are known as undergraduates. After three or four years the students will take their finals. Those who pass examinations successfully are given the Bachelors degree: Bachelor of Arts or History or Bachelor of Science. The first postgraduate degree is Master of Arts, Master of Science. Doctor of Philosophy is the highest degree. It is given for some original research work which is an important contribution to knowledge.

Open Days are a chance for applicants to see the university, meet students and ask questions. All this will help you decide whether you have made the right choice.

TEXT 4. Read and translate the text in order to answer the questions:

1. What is Oxbridge?

2. Which is the oldest: Oxford or Cambridge?

3. Who studied there?

4. What is Oxbridge made up of?

5. What do the colleges include?

6. How is the Oxbridge staff called?

7. What is special about the system of teaching?

8. What clubs and societies are there at Oxbridge?

9. Is sport popular at Oxbridge?

10. What is the most famous competition between Oxford and Cambridge?