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EDUCATION IN
BRITAIN
Schools in Britain are of two types: free state schools and
public schools, which are for money. There are four kinds of
state schools: county schools, voluntary schools, special
schools and self-governing schools.
About 93 per cent of pupils in Great Britain get free education
while the others go to public schools. Compulsory education
begins at the age of five in Britain and at the age of four in
Northern Ireland, when children go to infant schools. At the age
of seven many children go to junior schools. Some pupils attend
comprehensive schools or grammar schools, to which they are sent
after exams at the age of eleven.
About 7 per cent of schoolchildren attend independent schools.
Independent schools range from small kindergartens to large day
and boarding schools. Preparatory schools prepare children for
going to senior school. Some independent schools are religious.
The National Curriculum consists of major subjects, which are
compulsory for 5 to 16-year-olds. In England the major subjects
of the Curriculum are English, mathematics and science, and the
basic subjects are technology (design, technology and
information technology), history, geography, music, art,
physical education and, for secondary school pupils, a foreign
language.
About 67 per cent of pupils continue to study after the age of
16. Education after 16 is divided into further and higher
education. After the state exams pupils can stay at school or
study in a further education college. Most post-school education
is provided at universities, polytechnics, colleges of further
or higher education, adult education centres or specialized
colleges.
There are about 90 universities in Britain, of which one,
Buckingham, is private, and one, the Open University (OU) is
open to students of any age. Most of them are employed people
who study in their free time. They get education through radio
and television, in classes at local centres and at summer
schools.
The biggest universities are Cambridge, Oxford and London
University. British universities are rather small; the
approximate number of students is about 7-8 thousand people.
London and Oxford universities are international: people from
all over the world come to study there. A number of well-known
scientists and writers, such as Newton, Darvin, Byron studied in
Cambridge.
Vocabulary:
approximate [a'proksimitWrnba] приблизительное
number число
basic ['beisik] основной
be divided [di'vaidid] делиться
be provided [pra'vaidid] обеспечиваться
boarding school ['boidnjskui] школа-интернат
comprehensive school [kttmpn'hensrv] общеобразовательная школа
compulsory [,k3m'pAls(3)ri] обязательный
county school [kaunti ,sku:l] школа графства
employed [im'ploid] работающий
free education [lfri:ledju(:)keiJ(3)n] бесплатное обучение
free state school ['fiisteit.skiri] бесплатная государ¬ственная
школа
further ['f3:63r3dju(:)- дальнейшее образо-
education keif(3)n] вание
higher ['hai3r3dju(:)- высшее образование
education keif(3)n]
independent school ['indapandant^kul]
независимая школа
infant school ['mfant.skui] дошкольное учреждение
junior school ['d3u:nJ3,sku:l] младшие классы
major ['meid33] главный, основной
National ['naejanlka'rikjubm] государственная
Curriculum учебная программа
post-school ['p3ust,sku:l обучение
education ledju(:)keiJ(3)n] в аспирантуре
preparatory [pn'pcer3t(3)n,sku:l] подготовительная
school школа
public school ['pAblik.skui] частная школа для мальчиков
range [remd3] варьироваться
self-governing school ['selfgAvannjskul]
автономная школа
senior school ['smja.skui] старшая школа
special school [lspef(3)llsku:l] специализированная школа
summer school ['sAm3,sku:l] летняя школа
take courses ['teikko:siz] ходить на курсы
voluntary [lvt)l3nt(3)nlsku:l] благотворительная
school школа
Questions:
1. How many types of schools are there in Britain?
2. Do the British get free education?
3. What is the National Curriculum? What does it consist of?
4. Do young people continue to study after the age of 16? What
are the possibilities for them?
5. Are there any universities in Britain? What are the biggest
ones?
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