The education system

Education in Britain is provided by the Local Education Authority (LEA) in each county. It is financed partly by the Government and partly by local rates (a kind of property tax). Educational planning and organization are not controlled as much by central government as in many other countries. Each LEA is free to decide how to organize education in their area.

Nursery education (under 5 years)

Children do not have to go to school until they reach the age of five, but there is some free nursery-school education before that age.

However, LEAs do not have nursery-school places for all who would like them and these places are usually given to families in special circumstances, for example families with one parent only. Because of the small number of nursery schools, parents in many areas have formed play groups where children under 5 years can go for a morning or afternoon a couple of times a week.

Primary education (5 to 11 years)

Primary education takes place in infant schools (pupils aged from 5 to 7 years) and junior schools (from 8 to 11 years). (Some LEAs have a different system in which middle schools replace junior schools and take pupils aged from 9 to 12 years.)

Private education (5 to 18 years)

Some parents choose to pay for private education in spite of the existence of free state education. Private schools are called by different names to state schools: the preparatory (often called 'prep') schools are for pupils aged up to 13, and the public schools are for 13 to 18 year-olds. These schools are very expensive and they are attended by about 5 per cent of the school population.

Secondary education (11 to 16/18 years)

Since the 1944 Education Act of Parliament, free secondary education has been available to all children in Britain. Indeed, children must go to school until the age of 16, and pupils may stay on for one or two years more if they wish.

Secondary schools are usually much larger than primary schools and most children - over 80 per cent - go to a comprehensive school at the age of 11. These schools are not selective - you don't have to pass an exam to go there.

In 1965 the Labour Government introduced the policy of comprehensive education. Before that time, all children took an exam at the age of 11 called the '11+'. Approximately the top 20 per cent were chosen to go to the academic grammar schools. Those who failed the '11+' (80 per cent) went to secondary modern schools.

A lot of people thought that this system of selection at the age of 11 was unfair on many children. So comprehensive schools were introduced to offer suitable courses for pupils of all abilities. Some LEAs started to change over to comprehensive education immediately, but some were harder to convince and slower to act. There are a few LEAs who still keep the old system of grammar schools, but most LEAs have now changed over completely to non-selective education in comprehensive schools.

Comprehensive schools

Comprehensive schools want to develop the talents of each individual child. So they offer a wide choice of subjects, from art and craft, woodwork and domestic science to the sciences, modern languages, computer studies, etc. All these subjects are enjoyed by both girls and boys.

Pupils at comprehensive schools are quite often put into 'sets' for the more academic subjects such as mathematics or languages. Sets are formed according to ability in each subject, so that for example the children in the highest set for maths will not necessarily be in the highest set for French. All pupils move to the next class automatically at the end of the year.

School uniform

The pupils at most secondary schools in Britain have to wear a school uniform. This usually means a white blouse for girls (perhaps with a tie), with a dark-coloured skirt and pullover. The colours may be grey, brown, navy blue, dark green or similar. Boys wear a shirt and tie, dark trousers and dark-coloured pullovers. Pupils of both sexes wear blazers - a kind of jacket - with the school badge on the pocket. They often have to wear some kind of hat on the way to and from school - caps for the boys, and berets or some other kind of hat for the girls. Shoes are usually black or brown and should be sensible - no high heels!

Young people in Britain often don't like their school uniform, especially the hats and shoes. Sometimes they do not wear the right clothes. Schools will often give them a warning the first time that this happens but will then punish them if they continue not to wear the correct uniform.

Computers

Computers have also started to play an important part in education. Most schools in the United Kingdom now have their own computer. As well as using them for school exercises, many young people are now able to write their own games as well. Although a large number of teachers and parents see the advantages of computers, others are not so keen. They say that some young people use computers only for games and don't really learn anything. This will interfere with reading development or traditional hobbies, such as drama or sport. In fact some people say that as computers become better at understanding and speaking we will prefer them to our friends!

Exams

At the age of 14 or 15, in the third or fourth form of secondary school, pupils begin to choose their exam subjects. There are two levels of public examinations taken in the fifth form: the Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) and the General Certificate of Education at 'Ordinary Level' (GCE 'O' Level). 'O' Levels are more academic and they are more valued than CSEs. Schools put pupils into CSE classes or 'O' Level classes depending on their ability in various subjects. A new school-leaving certificate is planned for the late 1980s, however. 'O' levels and CSEs will be replaced by one public exam, the General Certificate of Secondary Education, and children will be assessed on their work throughout secondary school. The new certificate will also give a picture of pupils' experiences and interests outside the classroom. In Scotland the exam system is slightly different and there is less specialization higher up the school than in England and Wales.

Sixteen plus

Pupils who stay on into the sixth form (17 year-olds in the Lower Sixth and 18 year-olds in the Upper Sixth) usually fall into two categories: some study two or three subjects at GCE 'A' Level (Advanced Level - a highly specialized exam) while others stay on in the sixth form to try and obtain more 'O' Level passes. Any pupils attending a school which does not have a sixth form may either move to a school which does, or they can go to a Further Education College.

Many people decide to leave school at the age of 16 even if that school has a sixth form, and they can go to a Further Education College. Here most of the courses are linked to some kind of practical exam, for example, in engineering, typing, cooking, or hairdressing. Some young people are given 'day release' (that is to say, their employer allows them time off work) so that they can follow a course to help them in their job.

Susan Sheerin, Jonathan Seath, Gillian White: Spotlight on Britain; Oxford University Press, 1985, page 119 - 122

Do you think secondary education should be selective or comprehensive? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both systems?

What do you think are the advantages of school uniform? And the disadvantages?

Do you think that some people play computer games too much and too often?

Do you think that computers could replace teachers in schools? Why?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of computers? How will they affect your life in the future?