unit 5 British_education(1) 英美概况

Unit 5 British education

Stages of education:

Pre-primaryComprehensive schools

primary (5——11) secondary (11——19)

Grammar schools

higher

年龄初等 教育 小学

教育制度

(某些情况包含十二岁儿童)小学通常分为幼年部和少年 部，有些学校会将学习场所分开。有些地区则采三级制， 区分为初级、中级和高级小学，结业年限分别是八或九 岁和十二或十三岁。 通常于十一或十二岁入学，而离校最低年纪为十六岁， 此时学生可以参加GCSE考试。高中在完成中学教育后， 学生选修为期一年的学科进修课程AS-Level。通过考试 后，再修读一年的进阶级课程A-Level,通过考试后才能 申请大学。 英国的学士学位一般就读期间为三年。学生若未具备就 读资格，可申请由国际指导学院所提供的大学预科课程 以取得大学就读资格

中等 教育

11-17

中学

高等 18-20 教育。

大学

。

21+

研究所 硕士

硕士课程通常包含课堂教学与座谈会，并须缴交论文。 通常就读一年即可取得学位

Educational Policy

Compulsory education(义务教育) for all children between the ages of 5 and 16 Comprehensive schools(综合学校) introduced in the 1960s National Curriculum(全国性课程) introduced in 1988 Four stages:

primary secondary further education higher education

Many people think school is just about teaching children what are often called “the three R s, reading, writing and arithmetic. In other words, the purpose of school is to provide children with literacy (读写能力) and the other basic skills they will need to become active members of society.

But the purpose of the British education system is also to socialize children. Children are taught practical skills; but in school they also learn the rules and values they need to become good citizens, to participate in the community, and to contribute to the economic prosperity of an advanced industrial economy.

Up to age 5, children may have some preprimary schooling in nursery schools, daycare, or play groups. The government has no obligation to provide such facilities and so many are private enterprise arrangements. However, the state realizes such provision (供应) is important, especially now that many mothers work, and so they provide some financial support.

Between

the ages of 5 to 11, pupils mainly attend state sector primary schools. These schools are called co-educational or mixed schools because they admit both boys and girls.

From

the age of 11 up to around the age of 19, students attend secondary schools. More than 80% of pupils in secondary schools in England and Wales attend mixed schools; 60% in Northern Ireland; Scotland, nearly all.

About 90% of secondary schools are comprehensive schools which admit children without reference to their academic abilities. S

uch schools provide a general education. Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature and sciences, to more practical subjects like cooking and carpentry.

Those children who do not attend comprehensive schools attend grammar schools instead. Grammar schools select children, usually at the age of 11, through an examination called "the 11-plus". Those who show academic potential are admitted to the grammar schools where the emphasis is on advanced academic work rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools..

In

Northern Ireland the grammar school/non-grammar school pision is still common, but throughout the rest of Great Britain grammar schools are becoming increasingly rare.

After 5 years of secondary education, (at about age 16) English, Northern Irish and Welsh students sit their GCSE exams (General Certificate of Secondary Education). GCSEs are the main means of assessing pupils' progress in their final 2 years of compulsory education. Based on these results, pupils then decide what avenue of education they would like to follow. They have a number of choices.

At the age of 16, they can decide to quit school and find a job; or they can prepare to sit exams for university entrance; or they can concentrate on vocational training. Every 16 & 17 year old is guaranteed a place in full-time education or training.

Pupils who hope to attend university carry on their academic study in the sixth form for a further two years and then sit A-levels exams (General Certificate of Education-Advanced). Most pupils try to achieve 3 or 4 Alevels in the subjects they are most proficient at. Since admittance to universities depends largely on Alevel results, the two years spent in the Sixth Form are very important and often very stressful for British pupils.

Other

pupils who decide not to go to university may choose to take vocational training. The vocational equivalent of A-levels are GNVQs (General National Vocational Qualifications), which provide a broadly based preparation for work or for taking further vocational.