Education in Great Britain

Children start to learn in age of 5 and go to primary school. Primary education lasts for 6 years. There’re two periods: infant schools (pupils from 5 to 7 years old) and primary schools (pupils from 7 to 11 years old). In infant schools children don't have real classes. They mostly play and learn through playing. It is the time when children just start to work with the classroom, the blackboard, desks and the teacher. But when pupils are 7, real studying begins. Now they have real classes, when they sit at desks, read, write and answer the teacher's questions.

Compulsory secondary education begins when children are 11 or 12 and lasts for 5 years. In Secondary school children study English, Mathematics, Science, History, Art, Geography, Music, a Foreign language and have lessons of Physical training. They can also get Religious education. English, Mathematics and Science are main subjects. At the age of 7,11 and 14 pupils take examinations in the main subjects.

There are 3 types of state secondary schools in Great Britain. They are:

1) comprehensive schools, which take pupils of all abilities without exams. In such schools pupils are often put into certain sets or groups, which are formed according to their abilities for technical or humanitarian subjects. Almost all pupils (around 90 per cent) go there;

2) grammar schools, which give secondary education of a very high standard. To learn there pupil must pass the test of ability, usually at 11. Grammar schools are single sexed schools;

3) modern schools, which don't prepare pupils for universities. Education in such schools gives good prospects for practical jobs.

4) There are also about 500 private schools in Great Britain. Most of these schools are boarding ones, where children live and study. Education in such schools is very expensive, that's why only 5 per cent of schoolchildren learn in them. Private schools are also called preparatory (for children up to 13 years old) and priveleged schools (for pupils from 13 to 18 years old). Any pupil can enter the best university of the country after leaving this school. The most famous British public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

After five years of secondary education, at the age of 16, pupils take the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examination. When they are in the third or in the forth year of education, they begin to choose their exam subjects and prepare for them.

After finishing the fifth secondary school year pupils can make their choice: they may  leave school and go to a Further Education College or continue their education in the sixth school year. Those who stay at school after GCSE, study for 2 more years for "A' (Advanced) Level Exams in two or three subjects which is very important to get a place at one of British universities.

Other facts:

Teachers have their own classrooms and it is the students that change rooms after every lesson.

Depending on your level in a subject you will be put in different sets. For example, if you are good at Spanish you will be in set one, but if you are bad at English you will be in set 5.

The school uniform varies from school to school but most schools have one.

On certain days you can wear what you want. For example, to raise money for charity.

It stops children worrying about what to wear, and teachers believe that it makes students more disciplined

They do not go to school as early as we do, but they stay there longer. The first lesson usually starts at 9 o’clock. There are 3 lessons with short breaks of 10 minutes between them and then an hour break for lunch. After lunch they have two more lessons which are over by half past three.

Here’s description of standart school lunch :there are two kinds of soup today: the vegetable soup and the chicken soup. There are three main courses. There are two desserts. There is a large selection of drinks. The food on the menu is very healthy. There is salad and there are vegetables. And there isn't any ice cream or chocolate!

The school year runs from September to July and is 39 weeks long.

• The school holidays are:
• October – 1 week
• Christmas – 2 weeks
• February – 1 week
• Easter – 2 weeks
• May – 1 week
• Summer – 6 weeks