Schools in the UK

[LisaR]

Greetings!
I have never posted on this board before. I hope you don't mind.
I was involved in a discussion with a few friends today comparing American public education to England. There was a great deal of guessing as to what school was really like in many other countries but our main discussion was England. I would love for some of you to share what your schools are like there. I would be curious what the focus is on in the elementary grades and high school? What are they stressing in terms of curriculum and at what age/grade? I am very curious if you know how much money is allocated per student (average). Do you have yearly proficiency testing like we do here? If anyone would care to share, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Lisa

 

[DisneySurfGirl]

Hi Lisa

State schools exam children at ages 7, 11 and 14 (these are called Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 and are proficiency tests and grades do not count towards grade point averages) and nationwide exams (both public and private schools) are taken at ages 16 (GCSE exams), 17 (AS Level exams) and 18 (A Level exams). Usually students end up with nine GCSEs, one AS level and 3 A levels. Only GCSEs are compulsory in this country but as AS and A level grades are used for university and college entry most students go on to take them. However, as an AS is effectively half an A level, some students only take AS levels and find they have enough grade points to get into university or college.

Elementary level or primary level as we call it starts at age 4 ot 5 and focusses on literary and numeracy skills in the early years and then maths, english, science and humanities such as geography and religious studies. When you enter high school or secondary school the subjects become more advanced, such as sociology, design and technology, photography, french, german, spanish, citizenship, drama, dance etc. Extracurricular activities are encouraged but not compulsory and involve sports, crafts and activities as well as helping the community (e.g. visiting residential homes to talk to residents and helping local elderly people with their gardening etc).

I went to a private/public/independent school and my sister went to a state school (her own choice - she preferred the state school over the independent). Although my school had a lot more money to spend, my sister's schools facilities were of as high a standard because they were given a lottery grant to build a drama and dance centre. My school worked its students towards university entry and it was expected that you stayed on to study A levels but my sister's school worked more towards persuading students to stay on (which my sister did and now she's going to university in September to do her teacher training).

Hope this helps!

 

[Frances999]

It very much vaires from school to school. I'm not a fan of the education system in this country. The standard of state schools varies dramatically depending on location and competition for the "better" schools in an area makes it difficult to receive a place for your child if you do not live on the doorstep. We chose to send our three children to an independent school because they did not receive places at our preferred state school, and the one they were allocated was quite poor. I have to drive 35 minutes each day to get there. Schools are reviewed every few years by OFTSED who produce a publically available report about the quality of the school and teaching. Primary school usually features SATs in state schools, but the school my children go to does not feature this and instead offers its own yearly examinations.

For GCSEs it depends on the school, but many make English (Literature & Language), Mathematics, Religious Studies and French compulsory. Then I believe one can choose from other "options" to make their total GCSE count up to around 9/10/11. There are different exam boards (do you have different boards in America?) which I find a little unfair as some are reported to be easier than others. For example, in an Edexcel GCSE Maths paper last year I remember reading that an A grade was awarded to candidates scoring just 40%. Why make it so difficult and the grade boundaries so low?!

I believe education is well valued in this country but the funding and discipline (particularly in some secondary level schools) can be awful.

 

[Goofyish]

Just to clarify, in the UK independant or non-state funded private schools are called 'Public Schools'. I think this is different in the US.

We don't have different 'grades', we call them 'years'. So children start school ay 'year 1' at the age of 4/5 depending on when their birthday falls within the year. Some schools offer a 'rising fives' facility that offers pre-school age admission.

Years 1 to 2 are usually refered to as Infant School (ages 5,6)
Years 3 to 6 are usually refered to as Junior School (ages 7,8,9,10)

You can have separate infant and junior schools, or a combined school called a Primary School.

Years 7 to 9 is refered to as Secondary School (ages 11 to 13)
Years 10 to 11 is refered to as Upper School (ages 14 to 15)
At the end of year 11 children take GCSE (General Certificate in Secondary Education) in whatever subjects they are studying. The number of passes and level of passes will reflect on what job they can go for, or go towards entry into further education colleges etc.

Children can legally leave the school system at the age of 16. They can then either get a job, go onto further education, or stay in bed all day

If a child wants to go to university they 'stay on' at school to take AS and A level qualification. This is often called the Sixth Form.

Children sit SAT exams at ages 7, 11 and 14. The results of these exams, together with regular government inspections of schools goes to create school 'league tables' that show how 'good' a school is performing. There is much contriversy over these league tables, as they don't reflect the area the schools are located in. You can't compare an inner city school with a rural school.

Most school funding comes from central government. There is a complex formula to define the level of funding for each local education authority. So the funding for individual schools around the country various.

See this link for more info:

DfES

 

[barrett7890]

Just wanted to add quickly that it's different in Scotland compared to England

cami
x

 

[Goofyish]

Just wanted to add quickly that it's different in Scotland compared to England

cami
x

You have schools in Scotland now?

 

[barrett7890]

You have schools in Scotland now?

 

[Tony Toon]

You have schools in Scotland now?

Indeed - and with an education system generally regarded as superior to that over the border although this is maybe not something we should get into I suspect.

Incidentally I am English and was educated in England but my children are being educated here in Scotland. Gotta say I delighted about that.

 

[LisaR]

Indeed - and with an education system generally regarded as superior to that over the border although this is maybe not something we should get into I suspect.

Incidentally I am English and was educated in England but my children are being educated here in Scotland. Gotta say I delighted about that.

Actually, I would love to hear about the schools in Scotland as well!

Lisa

 

[LisaR]

Thanks so much to everyone. This has been great information and I really appreciate it.

Lisa

 

[Miffy2003]

Just to clarify, in the UK independant or non-state funded private schools are called 'Public Schools'.

Are they Tim? Has this changed since I was a school then (many years ago, LOL).

 

[xox_Violet_xox]

Schools in Scotland.

Right-o Here we go......

Pre-school stages
Often there is a kind of mother-and-child group
Nursery-ages often between 2 and 3
Pre-school- ages often between 3 and 4


Primary School
Infant School- Primaries 1,2 and 3 (ages 5-7 or thereabouts)
Junior School- Primaries 4 and 5 (ages 8-9)
Senior School- Primaries 6 and 7 (ages 10 -11)


High School
There are 6 years in High school and go into three lumps lol
1st and 2nd year- bit of a laugh as not much pressure is applied except when you reach the end of the 5-14 work
3rd and 4th year- Standard Grade work begins after making subject choices at the end of 2nd year. Prelims often before Christmas of 4th year then Standard Grades in the Spring/Summer term
5th and 6th year- Higher and Advanced Higher courses. Same exam times apply to this as 4th and 3rd year alothough they are obviously different exams-lol!!


The all-important holidays!!!!

Summer Holidays. Usually about 6 weeks. Leava at the end of June and return at the end of August
October Break- Mid-end October
Chistmas Holidays- December-January
Easter Holidays- about two weeks normally

Then there are a few long-weekends and random holidays thrown in there to confuse things further!!!




^Well that's as far as i know anyways!! lol

But Scotland has a really good education system. I love it!! Apart from this "Make good choices" stuff the teachers are harping on about at th mo. I've all ready made 'em why should i worry!!??

 

[Goofyish]

Are they Tim? Has this changed since I was a school then (many years ago, LOL).

Schools like Eton, Harrow etc. have always been called 'public schools' - nence the phrase 'public school boy'

http://www.publicschools.co.uk/

 

[Olaf]

You have schools in Scotland now?

Oh, you're bad Tim!!!

Scottish or English, doesn't matter much, it's all very confusing for us over here.

 

[Danauk]

Hi,
I am a teacher in England so could answer questions for you.

Here we split our education system up into key stages: Foundation stage (nursery and reception children aged 3-5), Key stage 1 (previously known as infant children, aged 5-7), Key stage 2 (junior children aged 7 - 11) Key stage 3 (aged 11 - 14), key stage 4 (aged 14 - 16) and key stage 5 (aged 16 - 18). Students are tested at the end of every key stage. For Key stage 1, 2 and 3 children they sit SATs tests (key stage 1 are tested in Literacy and Numeracy and are marked by their teacher, key stage 2 and 3 are tested in literacy, numeracy and science and externally marked. All key stage 2 and 3 children in the country sit the tests on the same day.) Key stage 4 children sit GCSE exams (general certificate of secondary education) in subjects of their choice which they have been studying for 2 years (although they do have to have some subjects from certain areas.) Key stage 5 students stay on at school or go to college to sit A levels (or vocational equivalent courses). They sit exams at the end of both years in this key stage taking A1 and then A2 exams.

I work in a primary school which has foundation stage, KS1 and KS2 students. I work with year 6 children who are the eldest in the school (aged 10-11). The primary curriculum, like secondary is prescribed by the government. We have 4 core subjects, literacy and numeracy (which have to be taught each day), science and ICT. Then we have foundation subjects, history, geography, art, design technology, music, religious education, physical education, personal and social education and citizenship. In secondary schools they also have to teach a foreign language (often French, Spanish or German.) In our schools we are also supposed to have a collective act of worship each day, usually in the form of an assembly but children can be withdrawn from this if their parents request it.

As for funding, it is based per pupil and the age of pupil is taken into account. On a certain day in the year you have to report how many students you have on roll and that gives the basis for your funding for the next year. However money does come in from other sources which is ring fenced and has to be spent on certain things.

Schools are controlled by a governing body of elected repersentatives from different areas. It is their job to make sure the school is running as it shoud do. Schools are also inspected roughly every 6 years by government inspectors but are inspected in between by county inpectors (I had one of these observing me today!) Ultimately these inspectors could close a school down if it was not performing well enough although this takes a while to do.)

I hope this is enough info for you.

 

[Miffy2003]

Schools like Eton, Harrow etc. have always been called 'public schools' - nence the phrase 'public school boy'

http://www.publicschools.co.uk/

Ah, sorry Tim that's the misunderstanding then, most independent schools aren't public schools - they are private I believe. Most of the private schools round here aren't quite the same as Eton, Harrow etc

 

[LisaR]

I greatly appreciate all of the information everyone has given me. It has been interesting to read.

The reason this discussion came up between myself and a few friends was because we each have at least one relative/friend in England that will have kids in their education system soon. We were trying to figure out what the school systems do "over there" that ours aren't doing. Another thing that prompted the discussion was the fact that we are all getting exchange students from Spain or France in the next month. While going over their applications, we were just amazed at how smart they seemed. They were all fluent in at least three different languages, most knew six. They have traveled to so many different places. When asked to rate their English, many checked medium. After reading their full page papers on why they want to visit the U.S., I would be shocked if their English was only medium. They all wrote so well. Actually, better then a lot of kids that were born and raised in the U.S. We were told that all of these kids attend what would be called a public school here. My relatives in England are thrilled that they will be in London for at least five more years so their child will get a few years of their education before coming back to the U.S. I am still trying to figure out what other places are doing that is so different from us. Thanks again!

Lisa

 

[daipp]

And just to add to the confusion, in Wales the Welsh language is still taught.

David

 

[Dee8197]

Hi Everyone

In Wales the language isn't only just taught as part of your education we also have schools where the only language used is Welsh. They are very popualr becuase the class sizes were much smaller than in the english speaking schools in Wales ( they have now become victims of their own sucess ) now the class sizes are about the same maybe even worse that in the English speaking schools. Although DH and I can't speak welsh our DS is in a Welsh speaking school. He started at 3 years old and is now fluent in the Welsh Language both in the spoken and written word, and also in English, they don't begin to read in English until they are 7. He probably speaks more in Welsh than he does in English during the school week, but I guess his first language would be english.Apparently it is such a hard language to learn that it makes it easier to learn another language ie Italian from scratch to A level standard in a year. Speaking Welsh will make it easier for him to get a job in Wales but probably won't be much use to him elsewhere.

 

[SammieG]

I am always stunned at how smart the American kids seem to be compared to ours. I know little about the US education system, but it seems better than ours in general.