Make Your Way 5, Schulbuch mit Audio-CD und CD-ROM

A school class from the UK and a school class from the US are participating in a student exchange programme. They each designed a web page to inform students from all over the world about their country’s education systems. Read the web pages and then complete the charts. 16 Home Activities Pictures Community Links Contact us Droitwich High School looks forward to welcoming you! To get an impression of the UK’s school system, have a look at our website! Cheers, and see you soon, guys! Education in the UK – some basic information Although many 3- and 4-year-olds go to nursery schools, compulsory school starts for all children at the age of five (this is referred to as year 1) and they must stay at school until they are 16 (year 11). Years 1 and 2 are spent in infant schools. Years 3–6 are spent in junior schools. Years 7–11 are spent in secondary schools (which are often called high schools). The main exams that children study for in secondary schools are called GCSE ( G eneral C ertificate of S econdary E ducation), which children take when they are 16. From ages 16 to 18, many students stay in the school system to study for A ( A dvanced) levels. They will need good results in these exams if they want to go on to study at one of the 89 universities in the country. Students can also do AS ( A dvanced S ubsidiary) exams. Two AS exams are equivalent to one A level. The different types of school There are basically two types of school in the UK, ones that are free (state schools) and ones you have to pay for (private schools). State schools There are three types of state secondary school: • Comprehensive schools These are by far the most common type of school and about 90% of all children attend them. They are non-selective (anyone can go to them). Many of these schools are becoming what are called “specialist schools”. This means that they specialise in a particular area such as modern languages, technology or sports. • Grammar schools and secondary modern schools Only about 3% of all school children go to these. Grammar schools are selective and children must pass an exam called the 11-plus (when they are 11) to get into them. They are very academic and encourage their students to go to university. Children who don’t pass the exam go to secondary modern schools, which offer a more practical education. There are no grammar schools in Scotland or Wales. Private schools Private schools are also called public schools, which is quite confusing. The most famous ones are Eton and Harrow. Male members of the Royal Family often go to Eton. Public schools can cost anything from £2,000 to more than £20,000 a year. There are two types of private school: • Day schools – children spend the day at school and return home in the evenings. • Boarding schools – children live at the schools during term time. (NB: Harry Potter’s Hogwarts is a boarding school too!) We hope that answers your questions about the British education system. If you have any other questions, send us an e-mail and we’ll try to answer them! http://www.droitwichhigh.uk 34 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv