2. The English Educational System
Learning is a treasure that will follow its
owner everywhere.
2. Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age.
3. Knowledge is power.
4. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
3. The English Educational System
In what schools does primary education take place in Britain?
NURSERY SCHOOL
4. The English Educational System
At what age do children go to nursery schools and to
junior schools?
It is divided into two periods: infant schools (pupils from
5 to 7 years old) and junior schools (pupils from 7 to 11
years old).
6. 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;
• 2) grammar schools, which give secondary education
of a very high standard. Entrance is based on the test
of ability;
• 3) modern schools, which don't prepare pupils for
universities. Education in such schools gives good
prospects for practical jobs.
7. Compulsory education ends at 16.
After secondary education, pupils take GCSE (General
Certificate of Secondary Education) examination.
When do pupils take their first public exams GCSE?
8. There are 126 universities in Britain. They
are divided into 5 types:
• The Old ones, which were founded before the 19th
century, such as Oxford and Cambridge;
• The Red Brick, which were founded in the 19th or
20th century;
• The Plate Glass, which were founded in 1960s;
• The Open University It is the only university offering
extramural education.
• The New ones. They are former polytechnic
academies and colleges.
10. How are private schools in Britain called?
• There are also about 500 private schools in Great Britain.
• The most famous British public schools are Eton, Harrow and
Winchester.
13. • Text
• Before comprehensive schools were
introduced in 1965 by the British
government all children took an exam at
the age of 11 called "eleven-plus”. Those
who got the best results at this exam
(about 20 per cent) were chosen to go to
the best state schools called "grammar
schools", which gave secondary education
of a rather high standard. Those who
failed the 11+ (about 80 per cent) went to
secondary modern schools.
• Secondary modern schools gave
secondary education only in name and did
not prepare schoolchildren for
universities, as pupils were mainly
prepared for practical jobs. A lot of people
in Britain thought that this system of
selection at the age of 11 was unfair on
many children. So, comprehensive schools
were introduced. But in a small number of
counties they still keep the old system of
grammar schools.
14. True or false?
1. Comprehensive schools
were introduced in 1945
2. At the age of 11 all
children took an exam
called “eleven-plus”
3. After taking this exam all
children go to the best
state school called
“grammar school”
4. Those who failed the
exam go to secondary
modem schools
5. Modern schools do not
prepare pupils for
universities .
6. All people in Britain liked
this system of selection at
the age of 11.
7. That is why
comprehensive schools
were introduced .
15. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions.
1. private education —
2. compulsory education —
3. mixed schools —
4. boarding schools —
5. GCSE —
6. academic year —
7. nursery education —