It is useful for senior students stydying English as the second language.

1. Introductory Task
1. What term means a belief in the importance of traditional
values and competition?
2. What term means the idea that human behaviour is governed
by the economy?
3. What name is give to a very traditional form of Conservatism?
4. What do we call learning that is formal or informal?
5. What schools teach traditional subjects?
6. What schools teach children of all abilities?
7. What term means every person has the same chance?
Equality
8. Which instruction told all education authorities to go
comprehensive?
(4 minutes)

2. Introductory Task
1. What term means a belief in the importance of traditional
values and competition? Conservatism
2. What term means the idea that human behaviour is governed
by the economy? Market forces
3. What name is give to a very traditional form of Conservatism?
New Right
4. What do we call learning that is formal or informal?
Education
5. What schools teach traditional subjects? Grammar Schools
6. What schools teach children of all abilities? Comprehensive
schools
7. What term means every person has the same chance?
Equality
8. Which government instruction told all education authorities
to go comprehensive? Circular 10/65

3. Understanding how British society plans and organises
the education of young people
PowerPoint 2

4. Sociological Targets
You will understand that the school system in the UK
is complex and variable.
You will recognise that this difference in school
provision can have an impact on the education of
children.
You will understand the form of the UK education
system and recognise some of the factors that have
shaped it.

5. Personal targets
To work independently in class on an
assessment exercise.
To work with others in the class on
discussion points during the lesson
To meet assessment deadlines

6. Websites to support your learning
www.dfes.gov.uk/
This is the website of the Department for Education and Skills. Lots of official
data and government information is available, as well as policy documents
and links to other official sties
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education
This is the BBC site and is of course, excellent for current stories and background
information.
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/
Education-line is an academic site with research papers and links.
www.tes.co.uk
This is the teaching newspaper. You can see in the LRC, but the site is useful
because there are discussion forums and news articles about education in
Britain. See what teachers say to each when pupils are not about!
www.atss.org.uk
Use any of the sites recommended by the Association for the Teaching of Social
Sciences. They really are all very good.

7. Feedback from previous work
You have been asked to find out about one important
educational debate that has been in the news.
Feedback on what you have discovered to someone in
the class with whom you do not normally work.
What do you think that you have learned about the
British educational system from doing this work?

8. Idea for independent study
Find out about the education system in a country from
anywhere in the world.
Here are ideas for questions to ask:
At what age do children start school?
What subjects do they learn?
Do they pay for education?
What is the relationship between teachers and students?
What other questions could you ask?
Suggest different ways of discovering some of this
information.
(3 minutes)

9. Discussion point
On your own, write down your response to this question (2
minutes)
What is the difference between learning and education?
Share with a partner and develop your response. (2 minutes)
Share with someone on another table and develop your
response (2 minutes)
As a whole class, we will address the question.

10. Thinking for yourself
What is the most important thing that you have ever
learned?
Where and how did you learn it?
Why was it important to you to know this thing?
Now discuss this with your study partners (3 minutes)

11. Education
Formal education – takes place in school or
colleges. There is a curriculum and formal
assessment of learning
Informal education – takes place in clubs or non-
assessed situations
Non-formal education – learning that takes place
in the home or a domestic situation.
Provide an example of each type of education

12. Compulsory Education
All children will be educated between the ages of 5
and 16. This may be at home, but home can be
inspected.
The content of the education is regulated by the
National Curriculum
Education is freely provided by the state between the
ages of 5 and 19.
Local education authorities have a duty to educate all
children
If children are excluded from school then the
education authority must make alternative provision

13. The State Education system
19 -
Tertiary Education in a University or further education
institution leading to higher level qualifications
16 – 19
optional
Secondary education in a variety of types of schools or
sixth form colleges
10 ½ – 16
compuls
ory
Secondary education in a variety of types of schools e.g.
Academies, comprehensives, grammar schools etc
4 – 10 ½
years
compuls
ory
Primary education in local primary schools
There is also a
system that is
separate from
the State known
as the
independent
sector. It caters
for between 6%
and 10% of
children;
generally from
wealthy
backgrounds

14. What types of schools are there?
Schools are funded with public and private money.
Some schools are controlled by local authorities but
others are controlled by businesses or charities
There are many different forms of school

15. Community Schools
Community schools are owned by local authorities
who allocate money and employ staff. This is probably
the most common type of school.
These include grammar schools, comprehensive
schools, and secondary modern schools.
In Wales, you will also find community schools that
teach through the medium of the Welsh language.
What are the
strengths and
weaknesses of such
a system?

16. Foundation Schools
Foundation schools have more freedom than
community schools because the governing body can
select pupils and employ staff.
These schools may include comprehensives and
grammar schools.
What are the
strengths and
weaknesses of such
a system?

17. Voluntary aided and faith schools
Voluntary-aided schools are owned by charities and
they employ staff.
They may be religious faith schools.
City Technology Colleges are independent from Local
Authorities, but do not charge fees. They tend to offer
vocational qualifications.
What are the
strengths and
weaknesses of such
a system?

18. City Academies
City Academies that are independent from local
authorities and many are funded by businesses or
charities.
Large numbers are linked to religious groups.
They were often set up on the sites of failing schools
and many offer vocational education.
They have been controversial
What are the
strengths and
weaknesses of such
a system?

19. Specialist schools
Specialist schools have extra funding to establish a
centre of excellence in certain subject areas, although
they must teach the whole curriculum.
There are over 2,600 such schools in England.
What are the
strengths and
weaknesses of such
a system?

20. Summary of key points
Schools are funded with public and private money.
Some schools are controlled by local authorities but
others are controlled by businesses or charities
There are many different forms of school

21. Individual Research
Find out more about the independent sector of
education through using websites.
Discussion work with study partners and others:
Should parents be able to pay to get better education
for their children than others can afford?
Summarise points for and against independent sector
education.