EDUCATIONEDUCATION

IN BRITAIN

600 – Foundation of King’s School Canterbury600 – Foundation of King’s School Canterbury 1249 – Foundation of Oxford University1249 – Foundation of Oxford University 1284 – Foundation of Cambridge University1284 – Foundation of Cambridge University 1440 – Eton College founded1440 – Eton College founded 1902 – Education Act on state secondary edu1902 – Education Act on state secondary edu 1944 – Education Act – free secondary edu for all1944 – Education Act – free secondary edu for all 1969 – Foundation of Open University1969 – Foundation of Open University 1976 – Foundation of (private) Univ of 1976 – Foundation of (private) Univ of

BuckinghamBuckingham Education Act: School leaving age at 16Education Act: School leaving age at 16● ● 1990 – Education (Students loans) Act1990 – Education (Students loans) Act

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

The British Educational The British Educational system has three levels:system has three levels:

- schools- schools - further education (post-- further education (post-

school)school) - higher education - higher education

(university)(university)

Schools are divided into Schools are divided into two:two:

- state (maintained from - state (maintained from public funds)public funds)

- independent (privately - independent (privately financed)financed)

England and Wales, Northern Island and England and Wales, Northern Island and Scotland have Scotland have differentdifferent school systems, school systems, though further and higher education though further and higher education generally has much the same structure generally has much the same structure throughout Britain, and is mostly funded by throughout Britain, and is mostly funded by the state.the state.

Schooling is compulsory for 12 years, for all Schooling is compulsory for 12 years, for all children aged 5 to 16.children aged 5 to 16.

The school year runs from September to July The school year runs from September to July and the school day is usually from 9 a.m. to and the school day is usually from 9 a.m. to 3.30/4 p.m.3.30/4 p.m.

To monitor pupils’ performance, the To monitor pupils’ performance, the government held a series of government held a series of Standardized Assessment Tests (SATs)—Standardized Assessment Tests (SATs)—taken at age 7, 11 and 14.taken at age 7, 11 and 14.

In 1944, R.A. Butler’s Education Act In 1944, R.A. Butler’s Education Act introduced the eleven-plus examinations. introduced the eleven-plus examinations.

The major public exams which pupils The major public exams which pupils face are those taken in individual face are those taken in individual subjects at age 16 and 18 respectively subjects at age 16 and 18 respectively General Certificate in Secondary General Certificate in Secondary Education (GCSE) and Advanced (A) Education (GCSE) and Advanced (A) levels. levels.

New examinations, introduced in New examinations, introduced in 1989, called Advanced 1989, called Advanced Supplementary (AS) levels, are Supplementary (AS) levels, are intended to provide a wider range intended to provide a wider range of study. of study.

The examinations are not set by The examinations are not set by the government, but by the government, but by independent examination boards, independent examination boards, most of which are associated with most of which are associated with particular universities or group of particular universities or group of universities.universities.

Children, in Scotland, stay in the primary Children, in Scotland, stay in the primary cycle until the age of 12.cycle until the age of 12.

They take the Scottish Certificate of They take the Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE) usually at the age of 16, Education (SCE) usually at the age of 16, and instead of A levels, take the Scottish and instead of A levels, take the Scottish Higher Certificate (SHC) which is more Higher Certificate (SHC) which is more like continental European examinations, like continental European examinations, since it covers a wider area of study since it covers a wider area of study than highly specialized A level courses.than highly specialized A level courses.

Scots pupils who wish to continue their Scots pupils who wish to continue their studies beyond the Higher may take the studies beyond the Higher may take the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies (CSYS). Certificate of Sixth Year Studies (CSYS).

Students at Cambridge

On leaving school at age 18, pupils become On leaving school at age 18, pupils become students at universities and colleges.students at universities and colleges.

There are 87 universities in Britain, 71 in There are 87 universities in Britain, 71 in England, 12 in Scotland, 2 in Wales and 2 England, 12 in Scotland, 2 in Wales and 2 in North Ireland.in North Ireland.

After 1979 the Conservative government After 1979 the Conservative government tried to encourage a return to some of the tried to encourage a return to some of the old values.old values.

Through the Education Act (1986) and the Through the Education Act (1986) and the Education Reform Act (1988) it introduced Education Reform Act (1988) it introduced the greatest reforms in schooling certainly the greatest reforms in schooling certainly since 1944 since 1944

The main reforms included the The main reforms included the introduction of a National Curriculum introduction of a National Curriculum making certain subjects, most notably making certain subjects, most notably science and one modern language, science and one modern language, compulsory up to age of 16.compulsory up to age of 16.

The comprehensive reforms became the The comprehensive reforms became the standard form of secondary education.standard form of secondary education.

During the 1960s and 1970s there was During the 1960s and 1970s there was also greater emphasis on education and also greater emphasis on education and training than ever before, with many training than ever before, with many colleges of further education colleges of further education established to provide technical or established to provide technical or vocational training.vocational training.

The golden age of the The golden age of the public schoolspublic schools was was the end of the 19the end of the 19thth century. Most public century. Most public schools were located in the schools were located in the countryside.countryside.

After 1945, before the introduction of After 1945, before the introduction of comprehensives, when state-comprehensives, when state-maintained grammar schools were maintained grammar schools were demonstrating equal or grater demonstrating equal or grater academic excellence, the public academic excellence, the public schools began to modernize schools began to modernize themselves.themselves.

There can be no doubt that a better There can be no doubt that a better academic education can be obtained in academic education can be obtained in some of the public schools.some of the public schools.

THE STATE SCHOOL THE STATE SCHOOL SECTORSECTOR

Primary(5 – 11)

Secondary(11 – 16/18)

Pre-school(3 – 4)

THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SECTORTHE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SECTOR

Pre-preparatory (4 – 8)Pre-preparatory (4 – 8)

Preparatory (8 – 13)Preparatory (8 – 13)

Public schools Other Public schools Other independentindependent

(13-18) schools (11/13-(13-18) schools (11/13-18)18)

Britain is society where social class very Britain is society where social class very importantimportant

Educational policy can determine if class Educational policy can determine if class inequality can be erased or continuedinequality can be erased or continued

Continued debate over how “EQUAL” Continued debate over how “EQUAL” educational opportunity should beeducational opportunity should be

Important relationship between education Important relationship between education and social classand social class

51% working class 49% middle class but 51% working class 49% middle class but opportunities very different between opportunities very different between classesclasses

Middle class parents are likely to be Middle class parents are likely to be better able, and more concerned, to better able, and more concerned, to support their children’s study than support their children’s study than low-income parents who themselves low-income parents who themselves feel they failed at school.feel they failed at school.

There has been a considerable There has been a considerable change since the 1960s in the change since the 1960s in the proportion of undergraduate places proportion of undergraduate places taken by women. Unless one believes taken by women. Unless one believes woman’s brains to be better geared woman’s brains to be better geared to medicine and men’s to bridge-to medicine and men’s to bridge-building, one must conclude that building, one must conclude that social expectations still hinder social expectations still hinder women from realizing their potential. women from realizing their potential.

Men wear school ties as belts – Men wear school ties as belts – proudly displaying attendance at proudly displaying attendance at certain schoolcertain school

Attendance at certain school (like Attendance at certain school (like Oxford or Cambridge) is single best Oxford or Cambridge) is single best way to guarantee successful careerway to guarantee successful career

Where educated is very important Where educated is very important for the futurefor the future

Most public Univ was paid by govtMost public Univ was paid by govt Univ. of Buckingham exception (private)Univ. of Buckingham exception (private) Long history back to 12 and 13Long history back to 12 and 13thth C. C. Scottish univ: St. Andrews, Glasgow, Edinburgh Scottish univ: St. Andrews, Glasgow, Edinburgh

and Aberdeen 14 & 15and Aberdeen 14 & 15thth C. C. Other univ. 19Other univ. 19thth and 20 and 20thth C. C. 87 univ in Britain: 71 in England, 12 in Scotland, 87 univ in Britain: 71 in England, 12 in Scotland,

2 in Wales and 2 in Northern Ireland.2 in Wales and 2 in Northern Ireland. 1991- 353,000 students in universities 87,000 1991- 353,000 students in universities 87,000

from overseas(25,000 some funding)from overseas(25,000 some funding) 1992 polytechs and other univs1992 polytechs and other univs In 2000, 1 in 3 attend univIn 2000, 1 in 3 attend univ

Oxford University

Oxford Campus

1980s many higher education institutions 1980s many higher education institutions were forced to reduce their staff and were forced to reduce their staff and facilities in order to operate within tighter facilities in order to operate within tighter funding limits.funding limits.

1988 Education Reform Act established 1988 Education Reform Act established the Universities Funding Council for the Universities Funding Council for disbursing government money to disbursing government money to universities.universities.

The council may require universities to The council may require universities to produce a certain number of graduates, or produce a certain number of graduates, or to produce a certain number of qualified to produce a certain number of qualified people in specific fields, particularly people in specific fields, particularly science and technologyscience and technology

CORECORE degree, + options degree, + options 6 6 modulesmodules a year = 4 core modules + 2 options a year = 4 core modules + 2 options 3° yr: half is project, third is 3 modules, essays3° yr: half is project, third is 3 modules, essays ExamsExams: 1° : fail= re-take(20% drop-out rate): 1° : fail= re-take(20% drop-out rate) 2° : goes towards degree2° : goes towards degree 3°(4°) : Finals ( Bachelor)3°(4°) : Finals ( Bachelor)

MastersMasters: ’value of old degrees’: ’value of old degrees’No public oral exams/no dissertation to present in No public oral exams/no dissertation to present in public public

The Open University-No requirements to The Open University-No requirements to register, take courses through textbooks, register, take courses through textbooks, TV, radio, correspondence, videos, TV, radio, correspondence, videos, residential schools and a network study residential schools and a network study centerscenters

TOU-all walks of life-coal miners to TOU-all walks of life-coal miners to housewiveshousewives

TOU inspired the founding of China’s TV TOU inspired the founding of China’s TV and Radio University. BA, BS, MA, PhD and Radio University. BA, BS, MA, PhD