Education in great britain

The responsibility for education in Great Britain is distributed between central government, local education authorities (LEAs) and the governing bodies of the schools. Nursery education is voluntary. Some LEAs provide nursery education, or have reception classes in primary schools which last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are some private sector nursery schools, which parents pay for.

In primary schools the first two years, beginning at the end of five, are spent on informal development of expression and ability to concentrate. Often children stay with the same teacher all time for this whole "infant" period. More formal "junior level" teaching begins at the age of seven, though at this stage there is more concern with making children interested than with traditional instruction. Competitiveness in the learning process is not encouraged, though there is now favour of increased attention to the teaching of basic skills and knowledge.

About 5% of pupils go to independent (private) schools. Of the remainder, the vast majority (90%) attend comprehensive schools. These began in the 1950s, and admit children without reference to ability or aptitude. The children represent a total social cross-section, and all the subjects are available. In a very few areas, children are selected according to levels of academic attainment, and depending on their results in an exam (the 11+), go either to a grammar school, which runs academic courses for selected pupils aged 11-18, or to a secondary modern, which offers a more general education for pupils up to 16, although they can stay on if they wish.

Although almost all state secondary schools are now comprehensive schools, the equalising purpose of the system has not altogether been achieved. All comprehensive secondary schools may be intended to be of equal standard, but in some schools far bigger proportions of the pupils perform well in the certificate examination than in others.

The majority of comprehensive schools provide a thorough academic education. Parents may ask for their children to go to one school rather than another. Even in the most favoured schools there are problems with a proportion of the pupils. In spite of the efforts of school attendance officers many pupils attend irregularly, and have little interest in their work when they do attend.

The old practice of "streaming", or teaching children in classes separated according to ability, has been unfashionable but is still used.

Outside the academic curriculum there is great concern with the development of the child's personality. Clubs are encouraged for the joint pursuit of interests in nature, such as bird-watching, or music, dancing or drama.

The approach to education has changed. It is now widely accepted that it is not enough for children simply to absorb and remember information. they should be equipped to evaluate and criticise the information they receive, and to find out things for themselves. The content of education should as far as practicable be relevant to real life. Language teaching should make use of typical situations of tourists or business people. Children learn about the essential relations between figures rather than mathematical procedures. the rules of grammar and syntax are not emphasised at the early stages. So, children aged eleven know just a little about the structure of language and about things such as verbs and nouns.

One difficulty is similar to that which affects many other public services. Modern technology demands more expenditure on computers and other types of school equipment. But the Government's first priorities are concerned with economy: to curb inflation, to reduce taxes, and hence to restrain public expenditure.

The exams that pupils take used to be as follows: GCE (General Certificate of Education) "O" Level (Ordinary), taken at 16 in a number of subjects (average six). CSE (Certificate of Secondary Education), also taken at 16, but easier than  "O" Level. GCE  "A" Level (Advanced), taken at 18 in fewer subjects, usually 1, 2, 3 or 4.

In 1987, "O"  Levels and CSEs were phased out and replaced with GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education), taken at 16. These are more practical, with less emphasis on retaining facts and more on the application of them. Assessment is continuous, with at least 20% of coursework counting towards the final grade. "A" level examinations are still set and marked by various examining boards appointed by universities or groups of univerdities. Schools can choose which board they like.

Both GCSEs and "A" Levels can be taken in almost any subject. The average school candidate takes six or seven GCSEs , the most common subjects being English, history, geography, French, German, mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology.

Good GCSEs  passes qualify boys and girls for good office jobs and for entry to courses for certain specialist jobs. Good "A" Level passes are essential for entrance into a university and the number of subjects taken at "A" Level varies between one and four. Students can apply for a place at the university accepts them depends on how good their "A" Level results are.

The public schools are the most famous of the private secondary schools. The oldest of the public schools (Eton College dates from 1440) were founded to give free education to clever boys whose parents could not affort to educate them privately. They were under "public" management and control and were called "public schools" to distinguish them from small private schools run by individuals. Today, these schools are the most expensive of the independent schools in Britain. They are mostly boarding schools, where pupils live as well as study, though some of them also take some day-pupils.

Normally, entrance is by examination and state schools do not prepare children for this. So parents who wish to send their children to a public school often send them first to a preparatory school. Preparotary schools are small, private primary schools which prepare children for school examination.

Most boarding public schools have been concerned to develop in their pupils a strong sense of duty, obedience combined with ability to exercise authority, and a habit of suppressing private feelings. A school is divided into "houses" with selected older boys as prefects. Until quate recently the prefects imposed a strict discipline, often with brutal punishments ( but nowadays old brutality doesn't survive). Good cricket and rugby football players won great prestige.

These schools offer high quality facilities. The education is traditional. They have produced over the centuries many of Britains distinguished people. So parents who can afford it still pay thousands of pounds to have their children educated at a public school.

About 50% of children continue their education after 16, some in schools, others in colleges of further education and technical colleges. For entrance to a university, pupils need at least two A levels, but usually universities ask for three. About 5% of children go to university. Courses usually last for three years, at the end of which students are awarded a degree (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science). Postgraduate degrees are MA (Master of Arts), MSc (Master of Science) and PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).

Polytechnics offer academic subjects and training for particular jobs, which result in either a degree, a certificate or a diploma. They have close links with commerce and industry. Students receive grants to higher education from the LEAs, which are not repaid. The size of the grant depends on the student or the parents' means. Student loans may be introduced shortly and may eventually replace grant.