Education in Britain

Education in Britain

Education is a subject about which many British people care deeply. Most believe that the state should provide education free of charge and to a high standard. At election time, politicians who promise to spend more on education are popular with voters. Recently, there has been a lot of debate about students having to pay their own fees at university, as well as their living expenses. Some people are afraid that poorer students will not receive enough financial help and will be discouraged from going on to higher education.

The education system

An increasing number of children under 5 receive pre-school education. Some go to playgroups several times a week and take part in structured play (= play with some educational purpose) with other children of the same age. Others go to a nursery school or to the nursery department or kindergarten of a school. The availability of preschool education varies from area to area, and parents often have to pay for it.

Children are required to be in full-time education between the ages of 5 and 16. Different areas of Britain have different school systems. In some areas children receive their primary education at an infant school and then a junior school, or at a primary school that combines the two. At about 11 they begin their secondary education at a comprehensive school, a grammar school or a high school. In other areas children go to a first school at age 5, a middle school at 8 and an upper school from 13 onwards. Some pupils, especially those hoping to go to university, stay at school for the sixth form or go to a sixth-form college.

Most children go to state schools. Until 1988 these were all responsible to a Local Education Authority (LEA). LEAs obtain their funding from central government and the council tax. In 1988 secondary schools and larger primary schools were encouraged to out of LEA control and become grant-maintained. These schools receive money direct from central government are run by a board of governors consisting of parents and members of the public. In Scotland and Northern Ireland most schools are still managed by local authorities.

Some children go to independent schools run by private organizations, for which their parents have to pay fees. A few go to public schools, such as Eton and Harrow. Younger children may attend a private preparatory school (or prep school) until the age of 13. Some parents may send their children to private schools, even if this is against their principles, because they think that their children will receive a better education.

Young people are expected to show respect for their teachers and obey school rules. Pupils who misbehave may be punished, e.g. by having to stay behind after school. Corporal punishment, being smacked or caned, was ended many years ago. Sometimes students get into more serious trouble, e.g. by being violent or through using drugs, and risk being expelled (= told to leave permanently).

The British education system aims to educate the whole person, so that each child develops his or her personality as well as gaining academic know­ledge. Most primary and secondary schools offer a range of extra-curricular activities (= activities outside normal lessons), including sports, music, community service and trips to places of interest. Secondary schools also give careers advice and help students to prepare for having a job by arranging short periods of work experience with local businesses.

Standards in education.

Since 1988 the subjects to be taught in state schools have been laid down in the National Curriculum, which also sets the standards to be achieved. Children have to study the core subjects of English, mathematics and science, and also the foundation subjects of technology, geography, history, art, music and physical education. Older children take a foreign language. The National Curriculum does not apply in Scotland, and schools there are free to decide how much time they devote to each subject. Children do standard assessment tests (SATs) at ages 7, 11 and 14. At 16 students take exams for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or the Scottish Certificate of Education. Some may take GNVQs (General National Vocational Qualifications) in work-related subjects. Some students go on to study for A levels in three or four subjects.

Many people worry that the education system fails to make sure that all children reach minimum standards of literacy (= reading and writing) and numeracy (= number skills), and there are often demands for more attention to be paid to the three R's (reading, writing and arithmetic). Standards at individual schools are watched closely by parents and the government. Schools are visited regularly by OFSTED inspectors, and schools whose pupils are not making adequate progress or in which discipline is poor risk being closed down. School performance tables are published annually to show how well students in individual schools have done in tests and exams. These 'league tables' enable parents to compare one school with another, but many people feel that it is unfair to base a comparison on exam results alone.

Educational standards are often said to be falling. This usually happens after GCSE and A level results are announced: if there are a lot of students with high grades people say that the exams are too easy. Others think that standards are rising and that it is now much harder to achieve good grades.

Further and higher education.

A smaller percentage of British students go on to further or higher education than in any other European country. Many students go to university and study for a bachelor's degree. Others study for a certificate or diploma at a college of further education. Most courses at these colleges train people in a particular skill and combine periods of study with work experience. Some people return to education later in life and attend evening classes run by adult education institutes. Open learning schemes enable people to obtain recognized qualifications, such as a degree from the Open University or a qualification in accountancy, without having to leave their job.

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