Introduction to Culture and Society Week 7_Education System in the U.K.

A. Questions
1. What are the differences between state, grammar and private school?
 State: funded by the government or via local education authorities. Tuition
can be free.
 Grammar: state schools for students who r good, have to pass the entrance
exams (selective).
 Private: not selective for most of the time, opposite of state schools.
2. What are the possible disadvantages of going to an independent school in modern
Britain?
Students may suffer from the feeling of discrimination, lower chance to enter top
universities, the environment might be over-protective, need to move far away.
3. What are the main topics of debate around education in Britain? How about those in
Vietnam?
In Britain, main topics of debate around education include funding levels, curriculum
content, teacher training, school standards, and access to education. In Vietnam, debates
might revolve around educational quality, access to education in rural areas, exam-oriented
culture, and vocational training.
4. Do you think elitism is a major problem in British education system? Why?
Elitism can be seen as a significant issue in the British education system due to
disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes based on socio-economic status,
leading to unequal access to top institutions and perpetuating social inequalities.
5. What are the successes of the British education system?
Successes of the British education system include a strong higher education sector,
reputable universities, diverse course offerings, education standards, international
recognition, and a focus on creativity and critical thinking skills.
6. How do you understand the term “grade inflation”?
"Grade inflation" refers to the phenomenon where the average grades awarded to
students gradually increase over time, potentially leading to devaluation of academic
standards and making it harder to distinguish between students based on their achievement
levels.
B. Quick check (red = USA’s education)

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Introduction to Culture and Society Week 7_Education System in the U.K.

Which of the following items are the correct characteristics of the education system in the
United Kingdom?
1. There are five stages of education: early years, primary, secondary, Further Education (FE)
and Higher Education (HE).
2. The typical curriculum at both the middle school and high school levels comprises
English, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, and physical education (PE).
3. The federal government is not directly in charge of education at any level nationwide, it
does play a role in a variety of ways.
4. Since 2010, all three and four years old are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education
for 38 weeks of the year.
5. The major goals of primary education are achieving basic literacy and numeracy
amongst all pupils, as well as establishing foundations in science, mathematics and
other subjects.
6. Elementary schools typically teach students from kindergarten through either grade five
or six.
7. There are three main levels of Higher education courses: Postgraduate courses,
Undergraduate courses and other undergraduate courses which include all other higher
education courses (for example HNC - Higher National Certificate and HND - Higher
National Diploma).
8. Middle school or junior high school (lower secondary education) encompasses sixth
through eighth grades.
9. At the end of secondary, pupils are normally entered for a range of external
examinations. Most frequently, these are GCSE and Standard Grades.
10. High schools mostly run from 9th grade to 12th grade.
C. Consolidation Exercises
C1. Find the word or phrase in Chapter 14 of Britain which is used to mean or describe:
1. the three basic skills which should be taught in primary school: the three Rs: Reading,
Writing, and Arithmetic
2. the meeting of everybody in a school at the start of the day: assembly
3. a place where very young children go (like kindergarten or a crèche): nursery
4. the practice of grouping students of the same ability together: streaming
5. subjects which students have to study: compulsory subjects
6. a school whose students live there: boarding schools
7. money given to poorer university students to help them with living expenses: a grant
8. a badly-behaved child who has not learnt any discipline or cooperation: spoilt brats

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Introduction to Culture and Society Week 7_Education System in the U.K.

9. a period of the school year (there are usually three of them): term
10. the exams which older teenagers take when they are trying to go to university: A-Level
11. universities, typically in cities, which started in the nineteenth century: redbrick
universities
12. the two universities of Oxford and Cambridge: Oxbridge
C2. Choose the correct answer
1. Most British children between the ages A. one
of five and eleven go to____ schools. B. three
A. junior C. five
B. prep 5. What kind of qualification does a
C. primary student who completes a course of
2. Most British children between the ages undergraduate university study in Physics
of eleven and sixteen go to ____ schools. normally get?
A. comprehensive A. Cert. Phys
B. grammar B. DipSc
C. technical C. BSc
3. At which of these places could you NOT 6. Which of these schools is different from
study for A-levels? the others?
A. further education college A. Eton
B. sixth form college B. Harrow
C. grade school C. Summerhill
4. What is the typical number of subjects
studied at school by students in their
second year of A-levels?

Has two main kinds: state school vs private school => Public school: independent school
Higher education
A-Levels (3 to 4 subjects) -> AS level (year 12) -> Exam 1 (optional) -> Exam 2 ->
Before 1992: Higher education institutions
Now: Unis or Higher education colleges
2 kind of degrees:
Honours degree
Class 1 (>=70%)
Class 2 (60 – 70%)

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Introduction to Culture and Society Week 7_Education System in the U.K.

Ordinary degree
Teachers shortage
The problem of the three Rs: not enough, not appropriate for today’s context
Teachers usually have low social status.
Pre-school (Scotland) -> 1 years of academic to get to primary.
Northern Island: at least 1 year of education is available for every family.