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FINLANDFINLAND

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Pre-1970sPre-1970s

• Volkschools (6 years)• After year 4:

o Some pupils to lower secondary (5 years) and then upper secondary (3 years)

• Inequality of opportunity • Socially divisive• Re-organised in 1970s

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Current systemCurrent system

Age 6• Pre-school year

Age 7-16• Comprehensive schools

Post 16• Upper secondary schools• Vocational schools

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Compulsory educationCompulsory education

• Close to pupils’ homes• Municipalities designate schools• Exceptions:

Parental choiceOver-subscriptionHelsinki

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Assessment / outcomesAssessment / outcomes

• Continuous assessment• Based on tests, classwork, homework

• Graded on a scale 4 (lowest) – 10 (highest)• Pupil review • Parents meetings• No formal assessment or examinations• Grades on 4-10 scale at end of compulsory

education

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Secondary education 16+Secondary education 16+

• Upper secondary schoolsGeneral educationPlaces for up to c.60% of pupilsSome schools specialise

• Vocational schoolsInitial vocational education in a range of

occupational fields

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Destinations: 2000Destinations: 2000

• 93% of pupils started post-compulsory education:54% to general upper secondary schools36% to vocational schools3% took an optional 10th year in lower

secondary

• 7% did not immediately continue education

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Upper secondary: AdmissionsUpper secondary: Admissions

• Minimum average mark of 7• Can apply to any school in Finland• Schools can set higher level (eg 9.7)• Admissions decisions based on marks and

lottery• Specialist schools – aptitude/ability for

specialism – detailed application form

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Upper secondary:outcomesUpper secondary:outcomes

Upper secondary leaving certificate• Entitlement to place in polytechnic

Matriculation• General eligibility for a university place

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Vocational schoolsVocational schools• 2-3 years to complete• Balance between breadth of study and

specialisation• Can apply to any school in Finland• Number of places limited• No minimum marks• Some courses heavily oversubscribed• Criteria for admission

Priority if no previous vocational education Success in previous studies Work experience Entrance and aptitude tests may be organised

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Vocational schools: outcomesVocational schools: outcomes

• Ongoing assessment of knowledge and skills by teacher (through coursework, homework etc)

• Final assessment by • Teacher• By the employer (for on the job training)

• Qualification certificate (confers entitlement to place in Polytechnic and general eligibility for university)

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Issues / concernsIssues / concerns

• 7% of pupils do not continue formal education at 16

• Increasing number with learning difficulties • Disaffection among 13+ boys• Some 15% of pupils underachieving• Socio- economic background and standard

of education of parents have an impact

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Reasons for successReasons for success

• Pre-school support and pre-school education• Pupils ready to learn• Wide range of courses and subjects open to all• Professional teaching body which has flexibility

and responsibility• Focus is on the learning needs of the children• Key decisions about educational routes delayed

until 16• Schools have autonomy and responsibility

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GERMANYGERMANY

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LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKFRAMEWORK

Not monolithic in nature

Basic core common to all 16 Länder or states

Responsibility for education lies with states not Federal Government

SCHOOL STAGES IN GERMANYSCHOOL STAGES IN GERMANY

Kindergarten (voluntary) 3 – 6 yrs Places for 90% children

Compulsory Schooling 6 – 16 yrs

Grundschule (Primary School) 6 – 9 yrs (grades 1-4)

Lower Secondary 10 – 15 yrs (grades 5-10)

Upper Secondary 16 – 18 yrs (grades 11-13)

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LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLSLOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS

• % grade 8 pupils

HAUPTSCHULE - BASIC GENERAL EDUCATION 23% (preparation for work)

REALSCHULE - MORE EXTENSIVE GENERAL EDUCATION 26% (preparation for work or further education)

GYMNASIUM - INTENSIFIED GENERAL EDUCATION 29% (preparation for further education)

GESAMTSCHULE - GENERAL EDUCATION LEADING TO DIFFERENT QUALIFICATIONS 9% (preparation for work or further education)

OTHERS 13%

[schools offering hauptschule and realschule 7%; sonderschule (special schools) 5%; Rudolph Steiner etc 0.6%]

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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POST-PRIMARY SCHOOLSPOST-PRIMARY SCHOOLS

No academic, vocational, technical split pre – 16 yrs

General education (allgemeinbildend) provided by all Schools

Difference lies in:

- pace and intensity of learning

- no. of languages taken(1 in hauptschule, 2 in realschule, at least 2 in gymnasium, often 3)

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UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATIONUPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION

Gymnasiale oberstufe - in gymnasium or gesamtschule - leading to Abitur

- 30%

Vocational education - in fachoberschule (tech sec.and training school), berufsfachschule

(vocational school) or berufsschule and workplace

(dual system)

- leading to vocational qualification, entry to higher education or employment

- 70%

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SCHOOL LEAVERS BY SCHOOL LEAVERS BY QUALIFICATION (1999)QUALIFICATION (1999)

Abitur (allgemeine hochschulreife) 25%

Realschule leaving certificate 40%

Hauptschule leaving certificate 26%

Without hauptschule leaving certificate 9%

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TRANSFERTRANSFER

Aim is to match child to education which meets needs and abilities

After fourth year in primary school (grundschule)

No transfer tests. Primary school makes recommendation but parent chooses

Parent can ignore advice ( most Länder) or ask for formal test – trial period also possible in some Länder

Concept is that choice valid only if it meets childs needs

Want to avoid “foreseeable failure”

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TRANSFER: TRANSFER: PRIMARY SCHOOL PERSPECTIVEPRIMARY SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE

Ongoing consultation with parents

Information evening for parents in October

Transfer conference in January – principal + class teacher(s)

Parents can appeal:

– 1 or 2 in school each year

– 100 from 800 schools at regional level

– rarely reach Ministry (land)

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TRANSFER: TRANSFER: GRAMMAR SCHOOL PERSPECTIVEGRAMMAR SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE

Hold information days

If choose gymnasium without recommendation must be consultation

160 applications for 130 places

120 interviews (1 hour), reduced nos. to 132

Lessing gymnasium:

– 10% of 132 had Realschule recommendation

– about ½ stayed to Abitur

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ORIENTATION PHASE ORIENTATION PHASE (FÖRDERSTUFE)(FÖRDERSTUFE)

First 2 years in all schools, similar curriculum

Assess suitability of child for education offered

Ongoing assessment based on tests, homework, attitude etc.

6 point scale (grades 4 and above are a pass)

Failure in 1 subject – another test

Failure in 2 subjects – repeat or transfer

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FLEXIBILITYFLEXIBILITY Sitzenbleiben (remaining stationary)

– repeat year– cannot repeat same year twice or repeat more than

twice between grades 5 – 10– 3.5% not promoted in Hessen– about 10-15% not promoted in grammar school visited– most held back proceed satisfactorily

 Transfer– 25-30% leave grammar between entry and abitur– most transfer is downwards

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ADMISSIONS CRITERIAADMISSIONS CRITERIA

Regulations:

1. Proximity

2. Languages in order (English, Spanish)

3. Pursuing particular career

4. Aptitude in school specialism (specialist schools must be recognised by district)

5. Lottery

Not allowed to decide on basis of achievement

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ADMISSIONS:ADMISSIONS: PRACTICE PRACTICE Regulations ignored

Use siblings, interviews

Agree admissions between grammar schools to ensure get 1 of top 3 choices

½ local, ½ distant to get social mix (Hessen comp school)

Comprehensive (NR Westphalia)

– sex balance– 20% foreigners (average in area)– pro-rata from primaries if possible– high and low ability

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OBSERVATIONS ON OBSERVATIONS ON GERMAN SYSTEMGERMAN SYSTEM

Highly selective – match children to courses

Clear concept of achieving standard/competence before progressing

Flexible - school transfer

- sitzenbleiben/repeating

- almost 50 ways to gain Abitur

Parity of esteem