Реферат "Education in the UK"

Report

Topic: Education in the UK.

Performed:

Group:

Checked:

2022 year

Plan

1)The education system in the UK

2)State education in the UK

3)Financial aid and scholarships in the UK education system

4)Homeschooling in the UK

1)The education system in the UK

The education system in the UK is divided into four main parts, primary education, secondary education, further education and higher education. Children in the UK have to legally attend primary and secondary education which runs from about 5 years old until the student is 16 years old.

The education system in the UK is also split into «key stages» which breaks down as follows:

Key Stage 1: 5 to 7 years old

Key Stage 2: 7 to 11 years old

Key Stage 3: 11 to 14 years old

Key Stage 4: 14 to 16 years old

There are two «key stages»: The Key stages 1 and 2 refer to the primary school and at 11 years old, a student will go on to secondary school and finish key stages 3 and 4. Students are evaluated at the end of each stage.

In general at the age of 16, students go for General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). After completion students have options to chose for further education and then higher education.

Overview of the education system in the UK is divided into five main sections:

Primary Education

Primary education begins in the UK at age 5 and continues until age 11, comprising key stages one and two under the UK educational system.

Secondary Education

From age 11 to 16, students will enter secondary school for key stages three and four and to start their move towards taking the GCSE's .Primary and secondary education is mandatory in the UK; after age 16, education is optional.

Further Education

Once a student finishes secondary education they have the option to extend into further education to take their A-Levels, GNVQ's, BTEC's or other such qualifications. UK students planning to go to college or university must complete further education.

Higher Education

Students aged 17 and above can opt for Higher Education. They should have already attained further education qualifications, such as A-levels, the International Baccalaureate (IB), or an equivalent qualification from the UK or another country to sit for Higher Education. UK proposes an immense variety of higher education opportunities. UK higher education qualifications include diploma, bachelors, foundation and post-graduate degrees. Most higher education courses have modular structure, i.e. you can make a personalized course by choosing modules or units of study from different subject areas.

School uniforms in the UK

Schools in the UK love uniforms. Children typically wear these in both state and independent schools with the possible exception of Montessori, Steiner Waldorf, and some international schools.

School timetables in the UK

The school week runs from Monday to Friday. Typically, a school day starts at 08:30 or 09:00 and ends at 15:30 or 16:00. Students typically have morning and lunch breaks. Primary schools may also have afternoon breaks. Some schools have a shorter day on Fridays.

The school year in the UK runs from August or September to June or July, depending on the region. Normally, school holidays include half-term, Easter, Christmas, and summer breaks. Schools also close on bank (public) holidays.

2)State education in the UK

The publically-financed education system in the UK is typically called state education. Incidentally, the term “public schools” is largely used in reference to private schools in the UK. This can be confusing for new arrivals to the UK, so be aware of which type of school you talking about.

Generally, the quality of the UK education system is good. For instance, the UK performed above the OECD average on the 2018 PISA tests for reading, mathematics, and science. PISA is the Programme for International Student Assessment for 15-year-olds.

According to the 2021 national statistics, 10.5 million students attended state schools across the UK.

At the end of their compulsory education, secondary school students write exams in nine subjects to attain the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). This is in Year 11 in England and Wales and Year 12 in Northern Ireland. Maths, English, and science are core subjects, which every student must take. The equivalent in Scotland is the National 5 exams. In 2021, 51.9% of pupils across the UK achieved a grade 5 (strong pass) or above in their GCSE exam for mathematics.

Education in the UK beyond these years is called further education and typically runs until the student is 18 years old. At the end of this, they typically complete the Advanced (A-Level) exams at the end of Year 13 (England and Wales) or Year 14 (Northern Ireland) to graduate. In Scotland, it is the Highers and Advanced Highers. Average A-Level results increased from C+ to B in 2021.

3)Financial aid and scholarships in the UK education system

State-funded education is free. Even so, there are always extra costs involved. Fortunately, across the UK, students can get financial aid and scholarships. For instance, charities, like Buttle UK and the Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation, offer full bursaries for boarding schools.

In England, there is the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund. While in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, students can apply for Education Maintenance Allowance

4)Homeschooling in the UK

In contrast to many European counties, homeschooling is included in the UK education system. It is also called home education or elective home education (EHE). In fact, all four education departments offer support and resources to ensure high-quality tuition for home-educated children.

Parents can homeschool their children full-time or part-time. Accordingly, a child does not need to follow the national curriculum. Still, the local council will regularly review their progress. If it is found lacking, they may serve parents with a school attendance order. As such, the child has to attend their local school