Schools in the United Kingdom

(compulsory)
16-18 years College/Sixth Form (optional)
18+ years University (optional)

until July.
Children get 2 weeks holiday at Christmas, 2 weeks

at Easter and 6 weeks over the Summer.
There are also 3 holidays called ‘half-term’: 1 week in October, 1 week in February and 1 week in May.

days a week.
The school day begins at 9:00AM.
The day usually

finishes at 3:30PM.
Children at primary school usually have only one teacher for all of their classes – primary school teachers in the UK have to be able to teach all subjects, for example Maths, English and Science.

3
12:50 pm Lunch Break
1:30pm Lesson 4
2:30pm Lesson 5
3:30pm Home time

week.
The day begins at 8:30AM.
The day normally ends at 3:30PM.
Children

at secondary school have a form/tutor group in which they have registration, and then a different teacher for each class, for example a Maths teacher and a History teacher.

require a school uniform.
This is usually a grey/black skirt or

trousers, black shoes, white shirt and a jumper of the school colours.

with the school emblem on the left hand side
Black shoes
White

socks or black tights
In the Summer, there was a different uniform: a cotton, blue and white checked dress for the girls, and grey shorts for the boys

shoes
White socks or tights
Blue coat
There was no option for a

cooler summer uniform

wear a tie and also a blazer. Our uniform was

much more comfortable.

What do you think of the idea of having to wear a uniform?

to be single-sex: this means that boys and girls go

to school seperately.
I went to a girls’ school, and the boys’ school was the other side of town.
Girls tend to get better grades in single-sex schools and this is why they are still very popular.

to go to school. They ‘board’ there during the week

and then go home at weekends.
Some children stay at school for weeks before they return home.

to have a school uniform?

Would you like to attend a

single-sex school? Why?

What about boarding school – what do you think of that idea?

What differences can you see between the British school system and the Italian school system?

of Great Britain is considered as one of the best

in the world.
All British children between the ages of 5 and 16 attend school. There are 20 children in the average secondary school class.
The majority of children attend state school, but there is also a private sector. 7 % of children in Great Britain attend private schools. The third of children remain at school after the age of 16 and some additional education course. At the age of 18 or 19 they can go on their education. Universities and colleges offer full-time 3 or 4 year courses.
There are many different types of schools in Britain. There are three main systems: the comprehensive system, the selective and the private. The comprehensive system was introduced in England in the 60-s. Children go to a primary school at the age of 5. The comprehensive system is non-selective. This means that all children go from one school to another without taking any exams. They admit pupils of all abilities. Pupils in all state in schools in England and Wales study 10 main subjects, among them: English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Art, Music, Physical Education, Information Technology. Religious education is also taught. Attainment tests are given at the ages of 7, 11 and 14. At the age of 16 students sit the exams in as many subjects as possible. Weak students may only sit for three or four subjects. Better students take ten subjects.

pupils leave school and get jobs. About one-third stay on

at school until the age of 18, preparing themselves for higher education. They have only three or four main subjects, which are necessary to pass the advanced level exams at the age of 18. At the age of 16 they take their first exam to get general Certificate of Secondary Education of ordinary level. If they want to study at the university they should study 2 years more, pass Certificate of Advanced level.
At the age of 11 they take an examination called the 11-plus. Those who are successful go to a grammar school; those who fail the exam go to a secondary modern school. Every private school, as a rule, has its own education system, and parents can choose anyone they like.
There are more than 40 universities in Great Britain. All British universities are private institutions. Oxford and Cambridge are the largest and the oldest of the universities of Britain.

education
take an exam/ to pass an exam
to fail an exam
sit

for an exam
high education
higher education
non-selective
Attainment test
state school vs. private schools
nursery school
secondary school
comprehensive school
grammar school
the 11 plus
general Certificate of Secondary Education of ordinary level
academic year
term
to graduate from