English education system high school. The education system in the UK

Public schools in England, which are funded by the government, are part of the state educational system. Children study in them 9 out of 10 days. Private schools, they are also called independent, imply paid education in them, and the cost depends on the particular institution.

All schools are divided into types depending on the age of the children. General scheme education looks like this:

1. Institutions for preschoolers: classes are formed from children from 3 to 5 years old.
2. Primary school: age category of children from 5 to 11 years old;
3. Secondary school: students from 11 to 18.
4. Colleges, universities (high school).

AT public institution You don't have to pay for tuition. About how much it costs to get an education in boarding schools, and what is the cost per year, you need to check on the official website of a particular institution.

Most Russian citizens who prefer choose the best boarding schools in the UK (Eton, Ashford, Brighton) for their children: pay for summer courses to improve a foreign language and choose a specific school.

The system of educational institutions of the state type

Most often, publicly funded schools are dominated by mixed groups, that is, the institution is designed for both girls and boys. This is especially true for the elementary level of education. Government-controlled schools in the UK may follow a particular religion. There are schools that accept only Catholics or English people.

All schools in the country follow the general program educational requirements, take a responsible approach to the issue of preparing children for passing tests in accordance with their age.

What are the conditions for admission to English educational institutions? Local residents apply for training, are interviewed. For foreign citizens, including Russians, the requirements are similar. The only condition is that if the child is under 16 years old, then the parents must be in England for any of the (more than six months).

Otherwise, the child will be allowed to study only in private boarding schools, the cost of education in which is set by the school itself.

Disciplinary measures in all schools are varied. As a rule, the punishment for disobedience, being late or talking in class is an additional homework or working with study materials during recess. The punishment for serious misconduct is the summoning of parents, suspension from studies for a while, or expulsion.

Private boarding schools

Among independent schools in the UK, the most common boarding schools are girls-only or colleges where boys study, for example, Eton or Badminton. The peculiarity of these institutions is that they independently approve educational and methodological programs and decide whether students will be tested for compliance with the generally accepted educational course.

Private boarding houses are characterized by small class sizes (as a rule, no more than 12 people study in one class). For children, an individual approach is provided, the teacher pays a lot of attention to each student. Regardless of whether it is a primary or secondary school, private educational institutions can be of 2 types: “boarding school” or “boarding school”.

A five-day boarding school is a training of 5 days with two days off for which students go home. If the educational institution is of the “boarding” type (Eton, Badminton), then both lessons and accommodation take place on the territory of the institution. Students can go home for the summer holidays. The best boarding schools accept girls and boys of 11 years of age, and in some educational institutions admission begins from the age of 9.

Education in boarding schools includes 3 semesters: lessons are held in autumn, spring and even summer. Between all semesters, vacations are provided - long in time, like Easter, summer or Christmas, as well as short ones (the second name is half). The latter begin in the middle of each semester.

Training starts at the beginning of September and ends at summer season. How long the school year lasts depends on the type of school and the program provided. Unlike municipal institutions ending the year almost at the end of July, private schools set their own deadlines. In most institutions, the interval for the end of the academic year is the end of June - the 20th of July. Summer vacation last about 1.5 months. Christmas can be extended, as well as Easter.

English primary education in public institutions

Modern English primary schools accept children from the age of 4 years. The training lasts 7 years. In some cities of the country there are institutions like kindergartens (students under 6 years old), as well as junior schools where children at the age of seven study for 4 years.

You can get into elementary school (preparatory class) if you have the appropriate papers: parents will be required to fill out an application six months before the start of the first semester.

The best state-type primary schools cannot fully guarantee the continuation of a child's education in this institution, even if he ended up in a preschool class owned by the institution. As a rule, new elementary schools with a good reputation are overcrowded, so how many vacancies there are and what are the requirements for admission should be clarified before the start of the school year.

Each school for girls and boys under the age of 11 covers a specific area nearby. Children living in the territory belonging to the institution are accepted without waiting in line. A list of microdistricts and a description of the requirements is available on the official websites of all schools.

The requirements for entering a church school are the child's belonging to a particular denomination, as well as attendance at a Sunday church belonging to the corresponding educational institution. In addition, parents are required to come to church services 2-3 times a month for 2 years before the date of application for admission of a child to a religious school.

Private boarding houses for children under 11 years old

In the sector of independent education, the education of children up to 7 years old is called pre-preparatory, and students from 7 to 11 are engaged in preparatory institutions. After the children successfully pass the test, they can move on to the next educational level - secondary school. To date, there are very few old traditional institutions such as Harrow or Eton.

Every year the number of pre-preparatory and preparatory educational institutions increases, now there are more than 1000 of them. Each school has its own requirements and conditions. Can be different:

• admission conditions;
• curriculum: lessons, courses, educational and recreational activities;
• the cost of education per year;
• duration of summer and Christmas holidays;
• discipline: punishment and encouragement of students.

Many parents are faced with the problem of lack of places in the guesthouse of interest. This is due to the demand for education in a particular educational institution, its reputation and elitism. Registration of a student in certain schools of the country takes place even before the baby is born or from the moment of conception.

Most often, children pass special exams upon admission, according to the results of which the administration of the educational institution decides whether to enroll the child or not.

Secondary education in public institutions in England

An English secondary school is a place where students who have reached the age of 11 study. Institutions can be built on a blended learning system or a separate one, where boys and girls are educated separately from each other. by the most high level discipline (serious punishment for misbehavior and worthy encouragement for achieving success) and excellent educational results are distinguished by church schools of different religious denominations in the UK.

In addition, there are secondary selective educational institutions. Full classification secondary schools financed from the state budget is as follows:

1. A gymnasium where students are recruited according to a certain number of test scores, a well-written essay. The main subjects on which special emphasis is placed are logic and mathematics.
2. School of general education type. Receipt takes place according to the territorial affiliation.
3. Confessional institution. The condition for admission is regular church visits by both the child and his parents.
4. General educational selective school. Admission is partly based on the territorial basis of belonging to the school, and partly on the basis of sports training, ability to draw or music.

There are special boarding schools where the education of children is paid for by the local government. A description of the criteria by which schoolchildren are admitted can be seen on the website of the boarding school you like. In general, it is important how much the child needs this form of education, and how it corresponds to it. First of all, recruitment is carried out according to the territorial affiliation to the boarding school.

Finding a good public school for children over 11 years old is quite difficult compared to elementary schools. According to the generally accepted opinion, gymnasiums are considered the best, which affects the overcrowding of these institutions at the beginning of the academic year. AT a good gymnasium There can be up to 12 applicants per seat. First of all, those 11-year-old children who have revealed more abilities or talents in a certain area go through.

Education abroad has always been considered a prestigious matter, especially for the younger generation, so today I will share with you my observations on how education is conducted in British schools.

First of all, it is worth saying that our schools are very different from British ones. If it is customary for us to send children to study at about six or seven years old, then children are sent to study at about five years old.

In general, all training there is divided into three stages. The first is an elementary school, like ours. There, children study until the age of twelve or thirteen, and study the required number of subjects, there are about 12 of them. After that, the child goes to secondary school, where he studies until he is sixteen years old. There, schoolchildren eventually pass the exam and receive a semblance of our certificate, with which it is quite possible to go to college. And finally, the third stage is the higher school, where students study until adulthood. There, the emphasis is only on the subjects necessary for admission to the university, and at the end of the school, graduates take a special exam. An important plus is that the result of this exam is already the basis for enrolling in a university, that is, you will not have to take exams even upon admission.

With discipline in English schools everything is strict, so it will be useful to send unlucky and restless children here to study. It is customary to wear school uniform. Schoolchildren live in boarding houses near the school. Moreover, boys separately, girls separately. Several people are accommodated in one room, privileges are given only to students from the age of 16 - they are accommodated one or two people per room.

The learning process has its own characteristics. For example, if we give marks only for the final answer, then in England the student receives marks even for trying to answer, if it was in the right direction. This greatly encourages children to study.

Teachers pay the main attention to the fact that the child is comprehensively developed and can speak out on any problem. Therefore, students are constantly asked to say what they think about this or that matter, and this is also appreciated.

In the UK, it is also considered polite to thank the teacher if he made a remark or gave you an instruction. At first, Russian children and their parents who live in England cannot accept this fact for a long time, because Russians do not really like criticism.

To prepare your child for admission to English school First of all, he must know at least the basic basics of the English language. It would be helpful to send him to a summer school for an English language program. Also, together with the child, you need to learn some important points about culture and to make the child feel comfortable and confident in new country. For admission, the child must pass a special test, which is sent to his school directly from England, and based on the results of this test, talented students are selected who are already being interviewed by representatives of English schools.

In principle, it is not so difficult. But the result will make itself felt: the child will confidently know English, acquire the skill of communicating with foreigners and get a lot of impressions about the culture and customs of another country!

UK education system developed over many centuries and is now subject to strict quality standards.

The UK education system, like all English, is considered the standard of quality.

At least, the educational systems of other countries are constantly compared with the British. It was formed many centuries ago, and during this time it has not undergone major changes. Distinctive features British schools, for example, this is an "iron" discipline, classical teaching methods, an established educational process, a versatile program to prepare students for life in business world and society.

The system of elite education is especially well represented in the UK. High-ranking families from around the world try to enroll their children in prestigious British schools or universities, as studying in them guarantees not only the acquisition of deep knowledge, but the acquisition of secular manners, the British style of behavior and wide connections in the world of business and politics.

The British system is quite flexible. Among the many different training courses You can always find exactly the one that suits you, and, if desired, the selected items can be changed. Regardless of age, nationality and religion, anyone who successfully passes entrance tests(it is necessary to pass an international exam in English, documents from the school, sometimes pass the test of the educational institution)

There are two sectors of education: public ( free education) and private (fee-paying educational institutions, private schools). There are two systems of education in the UK that easily coexist together: one in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the other in Scotland

Diagram of the education system

In the UK (as in other English speaking countries) letter grades are used in reports.

grading scale

• A > 80% (excellent)
• B > 70% (very good)
• C > 60% (improvement needed)
• D > 50% (close fail)
• E > 40% (fail)
• F< 40% (fail)

In general, only grades A to C are a `pass`. Still, in the UK no student has to repeat a year - weak students can take extra lessons at school.

School types

There is a huge variety of schools in the UK. Different reference books, online, magazine and newspaper articles may use different criteria to classify schools. A common type of school in the UK is boarding schools, in which students both study and live at the school. The first boarding schools appeared in Britain in the era early medieval mainly in monasteries. In the XII century, the Pope ordered all Benedictine monasteries to open charitable schools at the cloisters. A little later, tuition in such schools began to take a fee. Although aristocratic families preferred home schooling to monastic schools, over time the belief spread that it was more beneficial for teenagers, regardless of social background, to study together with their peers. This conviction became the foundation for the organization and development of privileged boarding schools, among which there are those that nurture, educate and form the elite of modern British society for more than a thousand years. The list of the most expensive and prestigious schools in the world also includes British boarding schools.

Classification of schools by age of students:

Schools full cycle - where children of all ages from 2 to 17 years old study.

Institutions of preschool education- they are also called nurseries and kindergartens, for children from 2 to 7 years old. Here they teach to read, write, count, develop through games. Typically, these schools are organized in conjunction with schools to junior schoolchildren. - age of pupils from 2 years 9 months to 4 years.

Institutions for younger students (Junior Schools)- for children from 7 to 13 years old. Here, children undergo a special initial general cycle of training in various subjects, which ends with the Common Entrance Examination. Successful passing of such an exam is a prerequisite for admission to high school. (Primary schools - the age of students is from 4 to 11 years old. SATs exams are held in 2 stages, in the second and sixth years of study. The results of the second exam are important for admission to the Secondary School.)

Institutions for high school students (Senior Schools)- for teenagers from 13 to 18 years old. Here, children first undergo a two-year training to pass the GCSE exams, followed by another two-year program: A-Level or International Baccalaureate. (Secondary school - education for children aged 11 years and over. Grammar school - education for children aged 11 years and over in an advanced program. In the same schools you can get preparation for the university (Sixth Form).

University preparation schools (Sixth Form)- for older teenagers 16-18 years old.

Classification of schools by gender of students:

mixed schools where both boys and girls study together. There are many supporters of collaborative learning, arguing their position with the following statements:

Children with early years learn to communicate and cooperate with members of the opposite sex.

Representatives of the opposite sex stimulate ambition and increase motivation for self-development.

Schools for girls where only girls study. The arguments in favor of separate education for girls are as follows:

Girls develop physically and emotionally somewhat faster than boys, and in them they do not have to adapt to the “lagging behind” classmates.

Girls, as a rule, are more self-organized and better disciplined, girls' teams are better organized and focused on learning.

. "Amur affairs" do not distract from studies.

Girls grow up independent and do not expect that someone else will do "unwomanly work" for them.

The competitive environment does not attract and sometimes oppresses girls, who value support and teamwork much more.

Schools for boys where only boys study. There are also many arguments in favor of separate education for boys:

Boys are naturally more mobile and active, and they need a lot of movement, sports and outdoor games for normal development.

Boys have somewhat different criteria for success than girls (not obedience, but leadership, not “smoothing sharp corners”, but audacity, etc.).

The competitive environment is necessary for boys for self-expression and active development.

From childhood, boys are taught to easily cope with "non-male work" and become self-sufficient and independent.

Preschool education

Pre-school education can be obtained in both public and private educational institutions. Often parents send their children to a nursery at the age of 3-4 years.

preparatory education

In private schools, preparatory (or primary) classes accept children from the age of 5. Foreign students enter school from the age of 7, and at the age of 11-13 they are immediately transferred to the middle classes of the same private school.

Primary school education

Most British children enter public primary schools at the age of 5, and then at 11 years old they move to the secondary education classes of the same school or go to college.

Secondary school education

The modern system of education in the UK consists of four levels: primary (Elementary School), secondary (Secondary School), vocational or post-school (Further Education) and higher (Higher Education). Preschool education takes place in kindergartens and preschool classes. Primary education is received by children from 5 to 11-12 years old. From the age of 5, children attend two-year schools for toddlers (pre-preparatory school), from 7 to 11 years old - primary schools (primary, elementary or preparatory school). From the age of 11-12, the stage of secondary education begins for children.

There are public and private schools in the UK. All schools adhere to the same educational minimum. Compulsory free secondary education for schoolchildren under 16 was introduced by law. School graduates take final exams and receive a certificate of secondary education GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education). This certificate is sufficient to start an independent labor activity, but does not give the right to enter higher education institutions.

State Schools are free, designed for teaching English children, as well as for foreigners from 8 to 18 years old, whose parents have the right to permanent residence in the UK. International Colleges are secondary educational institutions that accept only foreign students from 14 to 18 years old. Accommodation is offered both in student dormitories (on the school grounds) and in host families.

In international colleges, education is conducted in accordance with the British high school system. Subjects taught: mathematics, physics, algebra and geometry, chemistry, biology, geography, human anatomy, sociology, political science, fundamentals of legislation, statistics, history, music, art, computers and programming, English, English literature, fundamentals of religion, one or more foreign languages ​​(French, German, Spanish, etc.). In addition to the main subjects, each school has additional ones, such as Latin, accounting, business basics, economics, and some others.

International colleges, along with school programs, offer preparatory programs (Foundation) for university applicants. After successful graduation, graduates are enrolled in universities with which there is an agreement on the recognition of the status of these courses. For foreigners who want to get higher education in the UK, this is a very convenient opportunity.

The main condition for admission to a British university is the presence of an international certificate in English. A year of study in the preparatory courses is good practice and preparation for self-study in English at the university, and, in addition, the opportunity to prepare and pass the required language exam.

Private schools (Independent Schools) are a more prestigious form of education mainly for English children (85%). Percentage foreign students should be no more than 15%. These schools cater for children between the ages of 8 and 18. Good private schools are independent, well-equipped educational institutions that own about several hundred hectares of land, on the territory of which there are educational buildings, sports facilities, a swimming pool, residences for living. Accommodation is mainly in residence, but some schools offer accommodation in local families.

Public and private boarding schools, as a rule, have a good reputation, a long history and traditions.

Secondary education in England for children under 16 is compulsory. All public and private schools teach children from 11 to 16 years old and prepare them to receive the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) - a general certificate of secondary education, or GNVQ (General National Vocational Qualification) - a national certificate of professional qualification. Most foreign students enter British secondary schools (most often private boarding schools) at the age of 11-13. The formation of a creative, self-confident, independent person is one of the main tasks of the British school. Children go through a special general cycle of education in various subjects, which ends with the Common Entrance Examination. Successful passing of such an exam is a prerequisite for admission to high school. From the age of 14 to 16, students purposefully prepare for exams (usually in 7-9 subjects) for a certificate of secondary education - General Certificate of Secondary Education.

Education from the age of 16

At the age of 16, after completing the compulsory cycle of education, students can either leave school and start working, or continue their education in order to enter the university. Those wishing to enter the university are offered a two-year A-levels course. After the first year of study, AS exams are taken, and after the second - A2-levels. The first year of study involves the mandatory study of 4-5 subjects, the second 3-4. There are no compulsory subjects required for delivery - the student selects all subjects individually from 15-20 offered by the school, thereby determining his specialization, which will be devoted to the next 3-5 years of study at the university. Often foreign students, coming to study in the UK, begin their education with A-levels.

Education from the age of 18

After completing a two-year A-levels course, students can receive either professional or higher education.

Vocational education (Further education - FE) includes vocational training courses and some courses for higher education (bachelor's degrees). The term "vocational education" is used to refer to courses for those who left school at the age of 16. There are over 600 public and private further education colleges in the UK. These institutions offer various programs of study, including English courses, General Certificate of Secondary Education and A-levels, professional courses.

Higher education (HE) includes bachelor's degree programs, postgraduate programs (master's, doctoral degrees) and MBA. The term "tertiary education" refers to studies at universities, colleges and institutes that offer academic or doctoral degrees.

Tuition fee

Higher education is paid for both its citizens and foreigners. For the latter - more expensive. Student citizens of the country can study in debt, which they begin to give only after receiving a diploma and getting a job with a minimum wage of 21 thousand pounds a year. If this does not happen, there is no need to repay the debt. Recently, more and more deputies in parliament are inclined to increase the cost of education. Such initiatives are unpopular among students.

International assessment of the quality of education

In terms of higher education, the UK traditionally takes 2nd or 3rd position in international university rankings.

In England and Wales, a bachelor's degree requires three years of study; in Scotland, four. In the case when obtaining a degree requires not only study, but also industrial practice (Sandwich courses), general term lengthen accordingly. At some universities and colleges, those students who intend to earn a degree in some specific field, such as art and design, are required to first take a basic course and then spend three years in their chosen field.

Bachelor's degree courses in areas such as medicine, dentistry and architecture usually last up to seven years.

Bachelor degree. There are several options for the bachelor's degree awarded in the UK. Their name depends on the specialization. The four main degrees are Bachelor of Arts BA (Bachelor of Arts), Bachelor of Science BSC (Bachelor of Science), Bachelor of Arts engineering field BENG (Bachelor of Engineering), Bachelor of Law LLB (Bachelor of Law). There is also a Bachelor of Medicine and Dentistry. The bachelor's degree is awarded after three or four years of specialized full-time study at a university or college. The British Bachelor's degree is recognized all over the world, which gives high chances for a successful professional career in any country. Bachelor Degree is the first stage of higher education. The second step is the Master Degree.

Postgraduate Courses. This level of education begins after a bachelor's degree and leads to a master's and doctoral degree.

Master's Degree. There are two types of programs: programs focused on research activities and programs focused on professional development in one of the specializations. As a rule, master's programs consist of a course of lectures and seminars, exams are taken, then students make a graduation project. Based on the results of examinations and the defense of a thesis, a master's degree is awarded. Master's research degree (Research) is called the Master of Philosophy M.Phil (Master of Philosophy). This degree is obtained after 1-2 years of independent scientific work under the guidance of a supervisor. Based on the results of this work, a master's degree is awarded.

Doctoral degree (Doctor of Philosophy - Doctoral or PhD Degree). In the UK, most doctoral programs are purely research projects. No lectures or training seminars are usually held. The supervisor, in the laboratory or department of which the student is preparing for the doctoral degree, determines the topic for the student scientific research and provides the facilities necessary for research (workplace, equipment and materials). It takes 2-3 years to complete a research program. By the end of this period, the student must publish the results obtained in official reports, in scientific or specialized journals, and write a dissertation based on published materials. The doctoral degree is awarded after successfully defending a dissertation.

international students

7k (189 per week)

It is impossible to imagine the UK developed in all spheres without a clear educational process verified over the years. Despite some conservatism in the educational field, one cannot but admit that it is one of the best in the modern world.
Speaking about education in the United Kingdom, it should be understood that in fact there are 2 different systems - one in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the other in Scotland. Both of these systems are thoroughly developed and fully meet the needs of society.

Features of the educational system

For more than 70 years, the education system in the UK has been governed by the Education Act, signed in 1944. This important document is more about school education, but it also notes many aspects of the entire educational system as a whole.

Education in the UK is divided into 5 stages:

• preschool - for children 3-4 years old;
• primary - for students 5-11 years old;
• secondary - for students aged 11-16;
• after school - for students aged 16-18;
• higher - for students from 18 years.

Education for children aged 5 to 16 is compulsory. Whether it is worth studying for a child under 5 years old, his parents decide, and whether it is necessary to get an education after 16 years old, the citizen himself decides. The system is designed in such a way that students can complete some educational levels in one educational institution, while others require training in specialized institutions.

Preschool education

Pre-school education in the UK is an integral part of the full cycle educational school, and often kindergartens are part of primary schools. Children aged 3-4 years can attend kindergartens or nurseries at the request of their parents. There, kids are taught to write, read and count, they develop them comprehensively with the help of games. There are public and private preschool institutions.
British pre-school education is limited to ages 2-7, but in fact most children are in a nursery from 2 to 4 years old, after which they are sent to primary school.
For full-time kindergarten services, you must pay or give the child to a free nursery, but they are designed for only 2-3 hours a day. The average cost of British pre-school education is significantly higher than in other European countries, so the country provides parents with special loan programs.

elementary School

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, primary school education can start at different ages:

• from 4 to 11 years old (Primary School) with a 7-year period of study;
• from 7 to 13 years old (Junior School) with a 6-year period of study.

In Scotland, primary school entry policy is somewhat different in that the formation school groups depends on what month of what year the child was born:

• children born from March to August go to school from 5-5.5 years old;
• children born between September and February go to school at 4 years - 4 years and 11 months.

Experts believe that the Scottish system of forming school groups is more flexible.
Primary school teaches geography, history, mathematics, English, music, art and industrial technology. All these subjects in elementary school are chosen by parents for their children.
Pupils in UK schools study for 6 semesters or terms, starting classes in September and ending in July. The academic year lasts 38 weeks, there are also holidays of 2-3 weeks for Christmas and Easter holidays, as well as 6 weeks in the summer. In the middle of each trimester, children are given another 1 week break. In most cases, education in schools is 5 days.
Schools have their own examination systems. In the Primary School, this is SATS, which is held 2 times: one 2 years after the start of training and another one at the end of the educational stage. The Junior School conducts an exam "11+" - it is the final one for training. Both of these exams are required for the transition from primary to secondary school.

high school

General Features

At the age of 11-13, children go to secondary school and study there until the age of 17. This period of study is also compulsory for all UK citizens. Upon graduation, students receive GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) - a certificate of secondary education. There are also schools in the country that issue GNVQ (General National Vocational Qualification) - a certificate of professional qualification.
Immigrant children are also enrolled in secondary schools from the age of 11-13, but most often they are assigned to boarding schools.
After 2 years of high school, all students take the 13+ Common Entrance Examination or Common Entrance Examinations in subjects such as:

• English (British and international);
• mathematics (calculation in the mind, with and without a calculator);
• geography, history;
• Latin and Greek writing;
• chemistry, physics or biology;
• Irish and Welsh (for Northern Ireland and Wales respectively);
• foreign languages ​​to choose from.

Based on the results of the exam, students receive a pass to further education in secondary school. Between the ages of 14 and 17, students prepare for the General Certificate of Secondary Education exams - this is the final test for obtaining a certificate of secondary education. The list of examination subjects is repeated by analogy with "13+" with the addition of several more disciplines.
School education in the UK is characterized by strict discipline, for example, for absenteeism or poor academic performance, a student can be expelled from school.
If parents wish to homeschool their child, they must obtain official permission from the Board of Education.

Private schools

Private schools in the UK are called public schools - these are educational organizations of full or partial boarding, which is less common. They are closed institutions of an educational type, where students are fully supported, that is, they study and live there. These schools have become traditional in the United Kingdom and are a prominent feature of British private education.
Private schools undoubtedly have advantages over state ones - they have more subjects to study, a strong material base, and the teaching staff is highly qualified. All this has led to the fact that graduates of private British schools are more likely to enter a higher educational institution.

Secondary special education

In addition to schools, in the United Kingdom there are institutions called Tertiary Colleges, where students can receive vocational education, that is, a specific profession (the English equivalent of our vocational schools). Education in such institutions is an alternative to the A-Levels programs, which will be discussed later, but unlike them, Tertiary Colleges suggest the following professional activity, that is, a less flexible approach to further possible learning.
For institutions of this type, a private change in educational programs is typical.

Post-secondary education

After graduating from high school, every Briton has two paths to choose from: either go to work or continue their studies at a college or university. If a person chooses the second, then he must receive additional preparatory education, that is, take two-year A-Levels courses. They represent the study of profile 4-5 disciplines in the first year and another 3-4 disciplines in the second year. The student himself chooses which disciplines to study, since they determine his future specialization.
Every year, students must take exams, but they are not clearly regulated, the student himself can choose those subjects that he wants from the total number of proposed disciplines.
If a foreigner comes to the UK for higher education, then his journey begins with A-Levels courses. For foreigners, a more simplified, but more intensive option (only for 1 year) is possible under the Foundation program. Its peculiarity is that the student pays his attention to only 1-2 specialized subjects and in-depth study of the language in order to understand academic English university vocabulary in the future.

Higher education

General information

The last stage of students is higher education, which students become at the age of 18. It starts at the bachelor's level, which lasts 3-4 years (in the field of medicine - 6 years). If a bachelor's degree takes 4 years of a student's time, then in the 4th year they offer knowledge for the first level of a master's degree.
Anyone who has received a bachelor's degree can continue their education at the following educational levels:

• Master (1-2 years of study).
• Postgraduate (3 years of study).

Colleges in the United Kingdom are of three types:

• Classical (they are accredited and can issue a bachelor's degree).
• Technical (have a narrowly focused training program and provide practical basic training in a specific working specialty).
• Further education (gives special professional education, for example, in the field of mechanical engineering, design).

There are two types of universities in the UK:

• Unitary (they include faculties and departments).
• Collegiate (several dozen colleges are united in them), for example, Cambridge and Oxford universities.

Higher education for all residents of the UK, including foreigners, is paid. However, citizens of the country have some privileges in payment, while foreign students must pay the full cost of study. There is support for students in the country in the form of scholarships and grants, which can be received by especially gifted students.
The start time of classes in higher educational institutions is the month of October. The academic year is divided into trimesters, which in turn last for 8-10 weeks. The main forms of work in colleges are lectures, seminars and laboratory works. In addition, there are also tutorials for groups of students of 2-10 people, for which the teacher (tutor) conducts his own classes. Holidays for students last from June 1 to September 30.

Features of higher education in the UK

Over 600 UK colleges (both public and private) offer young people vocational qualifications in a variety of fields. Prospective students can choose between studying at an institute, a university or a polytechnic college (here it is supposed to receive an academic or doctoral degree). Doctoral degrees are awarded to students for an invaluable and outstanding contribution to science or for special inventions, research for practical applications.
University students are offered a choice of a large number of electives, they have access to scientific laboratories and modern libraries. And the educational program is so flexible that, as a result of successfully completed training, you can immediately get 2 degrees different directions.
In the United Kingdom, extramural studies are also encouraged in higher education institutions. In this case, the student learns on his own, focusing on specially designed educational packages. At the same time, he has the opportunity to communicate with teachers and consult with them on e-mail or online.
Education in the UK can be called elite, so many high-ranking parents from around the world are trying to help their children enter British universities. Despite the high cost of education, students gain in-depth knowledge, master secular manners, and, most importantly, acquire valuable contacts in business and politics. UK university diplomas are the most prestigious in the world; every year up to 3.5 million students study here, of which more than 400 thousand are foreigners.
The success of the developed educational system in Great Britain is also evidenced by the fact that its principles were adopted in Canada and Australia.

Estimate!

Rate it!

10 1 2 1

## Stages of British secondary education Secondary education in the UK is compulsory for all citizens of the country aged 5 to 16, and for those who plan to enter the university - up to 17/18 years. The academic year runs from September to July and is divided into 3 semesters: September - December, January - March and April - July. The first level of education is represented by a two-year school for kids - prepreparatory school, where children study several subjects at the choice of their parents. As a rule, these are mathematics, English, geography, music and art. At the age of seven, the child enters a five-year primary school - primary school or elementary school. At this stage, students begin to learn natural Sciences and information Technology . To move to secondary school, students must pass the Common Entrance Examination (CEE) in the form of testing in the main disciplines studied and the level of intellectual development (IQ). The secondary school is for children aged 13-15. A feature of studying in an English secondary school is the ability of the child to independently choose some of the subjects for study. Children study 4-6 subjects and at this stage school education is aimed at preparing the child for the British Certificate of Secondary Education exam (/lib/gcse). Graduates of all schools at the age of 16 take an exam according to a single system that has been in force since 1987. The qualification exam completes the compulsory part of education for residents of the UK. [GCSE](/lib/gcse) certifies secondary education and is considered sufficient to start working. Foreign students studying or wishing to continue their studies in the UK take a similar exam for the International Certificate of Secondary Education International General Certificate of Secondary Education (abbreviated as IGCSE). The certificate obtained as a result of this exam is equivalent to GCSE. The next stage of schooling is to obtain an advanced secondary education certificate/certificate (/lib/a-level). Such a certificate is necessary for students who are going to enter universities. To get an advanced secondary education, you need to study for another 2 years. In the process of learning, the student chooses 3-4 specialized subjects, depending on what specialization he / she is going to choose at the university and prepares to pass qualifying exams in these subjects. An alternative to the A-level program is the program (/lib/ib). The results of the A-level and IB final exams are accepted by all universities in the UK and universities in most other countries. ##Private and public schools A feature of the English school system is that, along with public schools / state schools, in which British citizens and persons with a residence permit study for free, there are a large number of private schools / public schools that accept students on the basis of selection and charging tuition fees for both English and foreign children. The main difference between public schools and private schools is their funding system - public schools are funded from the budget and almost all of them are schools. mixed type, i.e. boys and girls study together. Admission to public schools is free or competitive, with preference given to children living in the district to which the school is assigned. For foreigners, secondary education in England is possible only in private boarding schools. The existence of public and private schools in England has a long history. Initially, in the 16th and 17th centuries, schools were divided into church and secular. The "Public Schools Act" of 1864 mentioned nine public elite schools, among which were the famous Eton and Harrow, offering a classical education for boys. Today there are more than 4,000 private schools of separate and joint education in the UK. Private schools are funded entirely by the students' parents and alumni sponsorship. Private schools in the UK provide educational services very High Quality, which is confirmed by the results of state exams and the statistics of admission of their graduates to leading British and foreign universities. It is noteworthy that 90% of private school graduates go to universities. Most private schools are boarding schools - children live and study here all year round except holidays. Almost every English private school has a swimming pool, tennis courts, sports and dance halls, music classes, outdoor and indoor sports facilities and playgrounds. In English school education a lot of time is devoted to the arts, music and sports. The school necessarily teaches dramatic art, painting, playing musical instruments, dancing, horse riding. Pupils are given the right to choose many subjects. As for academic subjects, there are fewer of them than in Russian schools, but they are studied quite deeply, and for each of them one has to pass a rather difficult exam. Classes in private schools are small - from 5 to 15 people, so teachers have the opportunity to find an individual approach to each student. Most private schools have sufficient experience in teaching foreign students - the proportion of foreigners among students in English schools can be from 10 to 50% and schools try to make sure that there is not one dominant nationality, except for the British, of course. Students live in residential buildings. The order is monitored by educators who live with the children on a permanent basis. As a rule, younger students are accommodated by 4-6 people in a room, and high school students (from 16 to 18 years old) by 1-2 people. In English private schools, the relationship between teachers and students differs from the model of relations that Russian-speaking students are used to in their countries - educational process organized in such a way as to encourage initiative, creativity, competition and respect for each other. As a result, children become responsible in all respects earlier, clearly understand their rights and obligations, what is possible and what is impossible under any circumstances, grow up faster and begin to understand what they want from life earlier. In English private schools, in addition to students living in a boarding house on a permanent basis, they also study day students (day students) - residents of nearby cities. On the other hand, there are always English students among the students living in a boarding house, although the majority, of course, are foreign students. ##The reasons why Russians choose English private schools are the reputation of English education in the world; - safety, favorable environmental conditions and excellent conditions for study and sports - all private schools occupy large territories, a lot of greenery, most are in countryside, surrounded by fields, forests, lakes and rivers, children are constantly busy with studies and sports from morning to evening, there is simply no time left for all sorts of nonsense; - geographical proximity: from English-speaking countries, only in the UK and Ireland can you get an education relatively close to home, other countries (USA, Canada, Australia) are much further away and the opportunity to see the child will be less; In the presence of a large number good free public schools, many English people also prefer to send their children to private schools, although for other reasons: - many families traditionally prefer to send their children to a school where one or both parents studied, and sometimes their more distant ancestors; - the public school in the immediate vicinity of the residence does not have high standards of education and / or it does not have any extracurricular subjects and / or conditions for practicing any kind of sport; - parents work abroad and are forced to leave the child in a boarding school; - parents prefer their children to study in a school with a separate type of education / single sex school (there are none among public schools); ##At what age is it better to give foreign child to school? The best option in terms of subsequent integration is the age of 11-13 years (at least a year before the [GCSE program] (/lib/gcse)) - in this case, the child adapts to the new environment without any problems and in a couple of years not only masters English perfectly language, but also mentally and in their behavior begins to be similar to their English peers. However, not all parents are ready to let the child go in such a early age. The last age a child can start studying in an English private school is 15/16 years old - this will be a one-year preparation program for (/lib/a-level) or (/lib/ib) and then the A-level or IB program itself. ##School or International Study Center (ISC) Very often, newly arrived students from other countries are not ready to immediately start studying in an English school with English children. For such cases, there are preparatory centers / International Study Centers, the main purpose of which is to prepare newcomers for subsequent education in UK schools. In such centers, at the first stage, the focus is on language training and only a few other subjects, and then, as they master the English language, the emphasis shifts, and by the end of the first year, the subjects of the school curriculum begin to occupy the main place in the school curriculum. Schools that do not have such centers may provide additional English classes for newly enrolled foreign students, usually instead of a foreign language. Which training option to choose - immediately the main one school curriculum with additional English classes or International Study Center - depends solely on the level of language training and the ability of a foreign student to integrate and adapt. ## A-level or IB Until recently, the program (/lib/a-level) was the only possible study program in high school - as part of it, students studied in depth 3-4 subjects, the choice of which was determined by plans for further studies at the university. This program is good for those who, already at the stage of the last 2 years of schooling, understand that he / she will study at the university as the main disciplines. (/lib/ib) is an alternative to the program (/lib/a-level) - for some time now more and more English private schools offer exactly IB along with the A-level program or instead of it. The IB program involves the study of 6 subjects, one of 6 different areas: foreign language, native language and literature, humanitarian sciences(history, geography, sociology), mathematics and information technology, natural science (physics, chemistry, biology), art (theater, music, drawing, etc.). Instead of a subject from the "arts" group, you can take a second subject from the "humanities", "mathematics and information technology" or "natural science" groups. Three subjects are studied in depth, and the other three are at the intermediate level. The IB program is suitable for those who have not yet decided on the main disciplines at the university and therefore do not want to be limited to 3-4 subjects, but want to study different subjects, albeit not all equally in depth, as well as for those who plan further university education outside Great Britain. The IB program is the European standard for secondary education and is considered to provide more balanced knowledge. ## Rankings The question of the place in the ranking of a particular school occupies the minds of many parents. Participation in the rating is voluntary, many schools prefer not to participate, as they believe that the ratings do not correctly reflect their contribution to the upbringing and education of schoolchildren. By and large, it all comes down to the following: there are schools that can afford to accept at the age of 13, relatively speaking, only excellent students (the so-called selective schools) and, as a result, all their graduates show very good results. good results- such schools, of course, strive to participate in all ratings; other schools (most of them) accept different students, with good performance and not very good, and the results for all students are also different - such schools (they are called non-selective schools), as a rule, do not strive to participate in ratings, which is not at all means that they teach worse. There are other factors that influence the decision of schools to participate or not participate in the rankings. Selective schools have a much more competitive environment: everyone around here is an excellent student or almost an excellent student, and the child must be very motivated and not be afraid of competition - when planning to send a child to such a school, parents and the child himself must understand what awaits them and be ready to study in such an environment. On the other hand, a good non-selective school has all the necessary conditions and teachers for the child to reveal his potential and achieve the maximum result, while studying in a less competitive, more comfortable environment. In addition to the above considerations, there are a few other things to consider when choosing a private school for your child: geographic location, the percentage of international students and the countries they represent, the number of students living in a boarding house, etc. ## Custody In the UK, children under 18 in without fail supposed to have a guardian. The vast majority of schools outsource this function to outside organizations - guardianship agencies that select the guardian family and carry out general supervision. The agency and the foster family act as a foster family during the period when the child is out of school for any reason, be it during holidays, sickness or suspension. In addition, guardians decide on medical intervention in case of a serious illness, represent the interests of the child in court, the immigration service, the police and other state institutions, resolve various organizational issues (registration with a family doctor, organization of movement around the country, etc.). );