Education Beyond Age 16

Oxford Graduation

At the age of 16, prior to leaving school, students are tested in various subjects to earn a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). If they wish to go on to higher education at a university, they take Advanced Level examinations, commonly known as “A” Levels. Scotland has comparable qualifications. About a third of British students leave school as soon as possible after turning 16, usually taking lower-level jobs in the workforce. Those who stay in school past the age of 16 may pursue either further education or higher education. Further education is largely vocational, as is adult education. Students may also stay in school until age 18 to prepare for higher education.

The percentage of young people entering universities in Britain is far lower than in the United States, where more than half attend. In Britain the proportion of students entering university rose from one in six in 1989 to almost one in three in 1996. In 2001–2002 there were over 2.2 million students enrolled in full- or part-time higher education in Great Britain, compared with just under 850,000 a decade earlier. By 1995 over 47 percent of 16- to 24-year olds were undertaking some form of higher education in the United Kingdom, and by 2001 more than 18 percent of the population had achieved a degree-level (or equivalent) educational qualification.

All Souls College, Oxford University

Britain has about 90 universities. British universities can be divided into several categories. The foremost universities are the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both founded in the Middle Ages. The term Oxbridge is used to refer to both schools as a single entity, much as Americans would use the term Ivy League in reference to the group of prestigious East Coast universities. Scotland has equivalent ancient institutions at Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St. Andrews. Another type of university is the so-called redbrick variety—old and solid schools built in the 19th century when bricks were the standard building material. The large number of ultramodern universities that sprouted up in the last half of the 20th century are often called cement block and plateglass universities. London has its own great schools, the enormous University of London and its world-famous college, the London School of Economics.

Students interested in advanced education can also attend polytechnics, which are schools dedicated to the sciences and applied technology. An education act in 1992 changed the status of these colleges to universities. Higher education can also be obtained through the Open University, founded in 1969, which offers extension courses taught through correspondence, television and radio programs, and videocassettes. It also sponsors local study centers and residential summer schools. The purpose of the Open University is to reach people who may not ordinarily be qualified for university study.

Task №1. Read the text and answer which of these statements are true and which of them are false. (true or false)

1. Education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 16.

• True

• False

2. Britain’s first education act was adopted in 1870.

• True

• False

3. Another major education act was passed in 1905.

• True

• False

4. An education act passed in 1944 and administered by the newly created Ministry of Education established free and compulsory secondary education up to age 15.

• True

• False

5. An education reform act in 1988 allowed individual schools to control their own affairs and budgets.

• True

• False

6. . National tests at the ages of 5, 12, and 14 assess students’ progress.

• True

• False

7. . Full-time school begins at age 7 in Great Britain.

• True

• False

8. Old boys and old girls refer to people who haven’t graduated from a school.

• True

• False

9. When a person is sent down from school, it means he or she has been thrown out.

• True

• False

10. Private schools or independent schools are called state schools.

• True

• False

1 Score

Task №2. Put the words in these sentences in the correct order (transformation, reordering)

1. The / schools / boarding /  most / Britain / private / famous / in / are / schools.

(The most famous schools in Britain are private boarding schools.)

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. Nearly / comprehensive / all / are / schools / Scottish.

(Nearly all Scottish schools are comprehensive.)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. In / to / form / elected / its / Scotland / legislature / 1997 / own

(In 1997 Scotland elected to form its own legislature.)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Wales / the / In / systems / England / education / and / are / Northern Ireland similar.

(In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the education systems are similar.)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

5. Welsh Assembly / its / Wales / the / own / also / body / elected / governing

(Wales also elected its own governing body, the Welsh Assembly)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

1 Score

Task №3. Choose a preposition from the box to fill the gaps. Not all the prepositions will be used.

(fill-in-the blank; prepositions of time)

by on for in at to after of since

1. They wish to go _____ (on) to higher education at a university.

2. About a third of British students leave school as soon as possible ______ (after) turning 16.

3. (By) _____ 1995 over 47 percent of 16- to 24-year olds were undertaking some form (of) _____ higher education in the United Kingdom.

4. Oxford and the University of Cambridge founded ____ (in) the Middle Ages.

5. At the age of 16, prior ____ (to) leaving school, students are tested in various subjects to earn a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE).

1 Score

Task №4. Choose the right answer. (multiple choice)

1. The literacy rate in Britain is one of the highest in the world at over ____ (99) percent.

a) 80	c) 99
b) 73	d) 21

2. An education reform act in ____ (1988) allowed individual schools to control their own affairs and budgets

a) 1902	c) 1973
b) 1988	d) 1870

3. . Legislation pertaining to education is laden with controversies because of education’s importance in _______ (Britain).

a) Schotland	c) Britain
b) USA	d) Russia

4. (Private) ______ schools or independent schools are called public schools.

a) State	c) Grammar
b) Private	d) Preparatory

5. Eton College, Harrow School, Rugby School, and Winchester School founded during the ______ (Middle Ages)

a) Middle Ages	c) XVIII centure
b) Stone Age	d) year 1973

1 Score

Task №5. Combine each phrase in column A with a suitable phrase from column B. (maching)

A B

1. Private schools that take older pupils from the age of 11, 12, or 13 to 18 or 19	a) are called preparatory schools
2. In Northern Ireland most schools	b) are often referred to as public schools
3. Private schools that take pupils from the age of 7 to the age of 11, 12, or 13	c) daily collective worship for all pupils
4. Higher education	d) can also be obtained through the Open University
5. Schools must provide religious education and	e) are segregated by religious affiliation

Your answers: 1 - b, 2 - e, 3 - a, 4 - d, 5 - c.

1 Score

Task №6. Write at least 10 sentences about types of schools in Britain. How you can characterized the education systems In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland? (essay)

(Tell about British Education, School's Out in Belfast, Eton College, Rugby School)

10 Scores

Task №7. Find the words below

(word searsh)

Britain, student, school, issue, class

s	t	u	d	e	n	t
c	l	a	s	s	i	f
h	g	h	o	p	a	p
o	m	f	j	l	t	n
o	i	s	a	w	i	c
l	d	f	o	q	r	z
i	s	s	u	e	b	q

1 Score

Task №8. Give a short answer to the next questions : ( question-answer)

1. When was Britain’s first education act adopted? (in year 1870)

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. What established the education act passed in 1902? (The education act, passed in 1902, established local education authorities (LEAs) )

………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. What allowed individual schools to control their own affairs and budgets? (An education reform act)

………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. What have England and Wales for students 5 to 16 years old? (a national curriculum of core courses)

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. What are the most famous schools in Britain? (The most famous schools in Britain are private boarding schools, such as Eton College, Harrow School, Rugby School, and Winchester School)

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

6. Private schools that take pupils from what to what age? (Private schools that take pupils from the age of 7 to the age of 11, 12, or 13)

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

7. How private schools that take older pupils from the age of 11, 12, or 13 to 18 or 19 are often referred to? (Private schools that take older pupils from the age of 11, 12, or 13 to 18 or 19 are often referred to as public schools)

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

8. Where in Britain educational systems are similar? (In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the education systems are similar)

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

9. In 1997 Scotland elected to form what? What it was separate from? (In 1997 Scotland elected to form its own legislature, separate from the Parliament in London)

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

10. At the age of 16, prior to leaving school, students are tested in what and what for? (At the age of 16, prior to leaving school, students are tested in various subjects to earn a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

1 Score

Task №9. Transformation. (Put the following sentences into indirect speech beginning with the phrase “He said that…”)

1. Britain has about 90 universities.

2. The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both founded in the Middle Ages.

3. Education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 16.

4. An education act passed in 1944.

5. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the education systems are similar.

1. He said that Britain had about 90 universities.

2. He said that The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, both were founded in the Middle Ages.

3. He said that education was compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 16.

4. He said that an education act was passed in 1944.

5. He said that in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the education systems were similar.

1 Score

Task №10. Choose what tense is used in the sentences below (grammatical labeling)

1. The school then receives funds directly from the central government instead of from the local authority.	a) Present Simple
2. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the education systems are similar	b) Present Simple, Passive voice
3. This was increased to age 16 in 1973	c) Present Perfect
4. Old boys and old girls refer to people who have graduated from a school.	d) Past Simple, Passive voice
5. In Northern Ireland most schools are segregated by religious affiliation	e) Past Simple

Your answers: 1 – e, 2 – a, 3 – d, 4 – c, 5 – b.

1 Score

10