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Schools in Britain

doc Schools in Britain


In Great Britain education is compulsory for all children from 5 to 16 years of age. Parents can choose to send their children to a nursery school or a pre-school play group to prepare them for the start of compulsory education.
AH state schools in Britain are free, and schools provide their pupils with books and equipment for their studies. Ninety per cent of schools in England, Scotland and Wales are co-educational. That means that boys and girls are taught together in the class.
At the age of 5 children go to infant school, which is the first stage of primary education. There is no written timetable and classes are informal. From 7 to 11 pupils attend junior school, which is the second stage of primary education. In primary school children are taught the so-called 3R's: reading, writing and arithmetic. The> also have music, physical training and art classes.
At the age of 11 most pupils go to secondary schools с comprehensive schools. These schools accept children of all abilities without entrance exams. About six per cent of students go to grammar schools, which take students who pass the eleven-plus examination. Grammar schools lead towards higher education, whereas comprehensives give general or vocational education.
At 16 pupils take national exam called GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) and then they can leave school if they wish. This is the end of compulsory education. Some 16-year-olds continue their studies in the sixth form at school or at a sixth-form college. The sixth form prepares pupils for the national exam called A-level (Advanced Level) at 18. You need A-levels to enter a university.
Other 16-year-olds choose to go to a college of further education to study for more practical (vocational) diplomas re to the world of work, such as hairdressing or mechanics.
Along with the state schools, there are about 500 private schools in Britain. Most of them charge fees. Some private schools are boarding schools, where the children actually live in the school. Many schools admit day pupils as well as boarders. Private schools usually ofier only the most academic line and select those students who are most likely to succeed. The most expensive private schools are called "public schools" and they have a long history and tradition. Among the most famous public schools are Winchester, Eton, Westminster, Rugby and Harrow.


doc Vocabulary


education — образование
compulsory — обязательный
nursery school — детский сад (для детей от 2 до 5 лет)
prc-school — дошкольный
to prepare — готовить
state school — государственная школа
free — бесплатный
to provide — обеспечивать
equipment — оборудование
co-educational school — школа совместного обучения
to mean — означать
primary — начальный
infant school — школа для малышей (младшая начальная школа для детей от 5до!лет)
junior school — начальная школа (для детей от 7 до 11 лет)
timetable — расписание
to attend — посещать
secondary — средним
comprehensive school — единая средняя (общеобразователь­ная) школа
to accept — принимать
ability — способность
entrance exam — вступительный
экзамен eleven-plus examination — отборочный экзамен для школьников в возрасте 11 лет
to lead — вести
higher education — высшее образование
whereas — тогда как
vocational — профессиональный
advanced level — продвинутый, повышенный уровень
to enter a university — поступать в университет
college of further education —колледж дальнейшего
образования hairdressing — парикмахерское дело
private school — частная школа
to charge fees — взимать плату
boarding school — школа-интернат
to admit — принимать
to select — отбирать
to succeed — добиваться успеха
expensive — дорогой

quest Questions


1. At what age do children start school in Britain?
2. Is seconc education compulsory for all children?
3. Do boys and gi rls go to i same schools?
4. What types of schools are there in Britain?
5. types of schools does primary school include?
6. What subjects does pupil learn at primary school?
7. What kind of school is comprehensive school?
8. What can they do aflerleaving seconc school? Can they continue their education?
9. What schools called "public schools"?
10. What are the most famous public schools?
11. Would you like to study in a British school? Why?