ANGLOFONE KULTURE 👍 Flashcards
How is education divided in Britain?
It is divided into three stages:
1) primary from 5-11
2) secondary from 11-16 obligatory
optional until 18 (so called sixth form)
3) tertiary after the age of 18
Is there a unique British school system?
No. There’s no unique British school system. We learned about the English one, which is also found in Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own school / educational system.
What can you say about the historical background of the British educational system? Did the government pay much attention to it?
British governments attached little importance to
education until the end of the nineteenth century.
It was one of the last countries in Europe to organise
education for everybody (the UK was leading the
world in industry and commerce, so it was felt
education must somehow be taking care of itself).
Why can terminology about the British school system be confusing?
Schools funded by the government, either directly or via local education authorities, are called state schools.
Private schools are known as independent schools.
The most confusing thing about them is that many
independent schools are known as public schools.
Describe public or pub schools!
- In the past, they were only for boys from the age of 13 onwards, most of whom attended a private prep (preparatory) school before
- Parents pay school fees for tuition and boarding
- They are divided into houses, each house being managed by a housemaster
- Some of the senior students are made prefects, which means that they have authority over the other boys, and until recently, they had their servants (called fags), who are appointed from amongst the youngest boys
- They place great emphasis on team sports
- Until recently, they used to enforce their rules with the use of physical punishment
- They are not luxurious or comfortable
- Nowadays, many admit day pupils
- Among the most famous public schools are Eton, Harrow, Rugby and Winchester
- When the pupils finished their education in these schools, they formed the ruling elite of the British society
At the age of 11, there was an exam for all students called…
Eleven Plus
Children with good results used to go to? and other students to so-called?
grammar schools, modern schools
What is the name of the school that replaced modern schools and grammar schools?
comprehensive school - in that school promotion is almost automatical between the ages of 11 to 16
What is the name of the exams that students take between 15 to 16 years of age?
GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams.
What is the name for the higher-level academic exams set by the same examining boards that set
GCSE exams?
A Level (Advanced Level) exams
