Vocabulary:

compulsory – обязательный

primary – начальный

comprehensive – общеобразовательный

co-educational schools – школы совместного обучения мальчиков и девочек

to graduate – заканчивать

to accept – принимать

Questions:

1. What do state schools in Britain provide their pupils with?

2. What can parents choose?

3. When do children start primary school?

4. When do pupils take a national exam called GCSE?

5. What prepares pupils for a national exam called “A” level?

6. How long students study for a degree?

7. Whom do universities and colleges of higher education accept?

The british education system private education

Seven per cent of British schoolchildren go to private schools called independent schools. There are 2.400 indepen­dent schools and they have been growing in number and popu­larity since the mid-1980.

Parents pay for these schools, and fees vary from about 250 pounds a term for a private nursery to 3.000 pounds a term or more for a secondary boarding school. Most independent schools are called prep (preparatory) schools because they pre­pare the children for the Common Entrance Exam which they take at the age of 11. This exam is for entry into the best schools.

The most famous schools are called «public schools» and they have a long history and traditions. It is often necessary to put your child's name on a waiting list at birth to be sure he or she gets a place. Children of wealthy or aristocratic fami­lies often go to the same public school as their parents and their grandparents. Eton is the best known of these schools.

The majority of independent secondary schools, including public schools, are single-sex, although in recent years girls have been allowed to join the sixth forms of boys' schools. In­dependent schools also include religious schools (Jewish, Catholic, Muslim etc.) and schools for ethnic minorities.

Vocabulary:

fee – плата

to prepare – подготавливать

pound – фунт (стерлингов)

boarding school – школа-интернат

Questions:

1. How many independent schools are there in Britain?

2. Why are the most independent schools called preparatory schools?

3. What school is the best known public school?

Cambridge

Cambridge is one of the best known towns in the world and it can be found on most tourists' lists of places to visit. Cam­bridge is famous for its university, which started during the 13th century and grew steadily, until today there are more than twenty colleges.

The oldest one is Peterhouse, which was founded in 1284. And the most recent is Robinson College, which was opened in 1977. But the most famous is King's Col­lege, because of its magnificent chapel. Its choir of boys and undergraduates is well known all over the world. The Universities were only for men until 19th century when the first wo­men's college was opened. Later the doors of colleges were opened to both men and women. Nowadays almost all the col­leges are mixed.

To the north of Cambridge is the Cambridge Science Park, the modern face of the University. This park has developed in response to the need of universities to increase their contact with high technology industry. It is now home to more than sixty companies and research institutes. The whole area is in fact very attractively designed, with a lot of space between each building. The planners thought that it was important for peo­ple to have a pleasant, park like environment in which to work.

Every year thousands of students come to Cambridge from Overseas to study English.