EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS OF THE UK AND THE USA

BRITISH SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

SCHOOL SYSTEM

There have been great changes in the educational system in Great Britain since 1988. A few
education acts have been issued (from 1988 to 1994) to raise standards at all ability levels, to give
parents a wider choice of schools and to make further and higher education more economically
available to large numbers of people.

All children and young people between the age of 5 and 16 must get full-time education. Over
90 per cent of all school children attend schools maintained from public funds (state schools).
Although overall responsibility rests with central government, most of these schools are financed and
maintained by Local Education Authorities (LEAs). Education at these schools is free. Every publicly
maintained school has a governing body which includes members appointed by LEAs, teachers and
parents.

Besides this state system of education there are also fee-paying independent schools -
private and church (for about seven per cent of children). Both types of schools are subject to official
inspection.

Boys and girls are taught together at most primary schools and more than 80 per cent of pupils
at state secondary schools attend mixed schools (in Northern Ireland it is less, in Scotland almost all
secondary schools are coeducational). Most independent schools for younger pupils are mixed but the
majority of private secondary schools are single-sex. The tendency, however, is towards more mixed
education.

School uniforms are worn in most private schools and at many state secondary schools
(especially Grammar schools). Children at some primary schools wear uniforms too, but parents vote
about them.

Almost all state schools are day schools which have classes from Monday to Friday. The school
day usually begins between 8 and 9 a.m. and ends around 4 p.m. It includes a fairly long morning and
afternoon break and about an hour’s lunch break.

The school year in England and Wales normally begins in early September and ends in the
following July (Scotland varies a bit). The year is divided into three "terms". The first term lasts from
September till Christmas, the second one from January till Easter and the last one from April till July.
There are some holidays between terms. Students and pupils have usually six weeks holidays in
summer.

The state system of education is divided into four stages: pre-school and primary education,
secondary education, further education and higher education.

PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION

Pre-school education is provided by nursery schools. In England over one half of three- and
four-year olds attend school and many other children attend pre-school playgroups, mostly organized
by parents. (In Wales more than 70 per cent do so, while in Northern Ireland only about 15 per cent,
but about 45 per cent start their compulsory schooling at 4).
There are not enough state nursery schools in Britain and people have campaigned for a long
time to get more opened. There are private nurseries but these are expensive and a lot of families
cannot afford them. Children start at 9 a.m. and finish at 3 p.m., they have their lunch at school and
usually a rest in the afternoon. They play, paint, dance and sing and do the same things that all little
children do. They do not have proper lessons.

PRIMARY EDUCATION

Primary education is provided by primary schools. The working day begins at 9 a.m. and
usually finishes at 3.30 p.m.

Compulsory education begins at 5 (at 4 in Northern Ireland), when children go to infant
schools or departments (5 - 7). The infant school has its own building and playground and is next to
the junior school, with its own building and playground. So, although you move up into junior school at 7 you do not have to change completely. There are usually about 35 children in a class and, in the
infant school, as well as a teacher, there is usually a teacher's assistant. Also mothers (and
occasionally, fathers) often go into the Infant Schools to help with painting, reading and practical
lessons. Emphasis in the infant school is on learning through experience, through drawing, painting,
musical activities, movement and play. Children learn to read, write a little and do simple counting.
Classrooms are bright and cheerful with children's work displayed on the walls and books,
games and a computer in each classroom. The children usually sit in groups at tables and have
drawers to keep their work in.

At 7 many children move to junior school or departments, where the work is more systematic.
Children learn English, maths, science and technology, geography and religious knowledge. A lot of
learning is done through project or topic work, with an emphasis on children finding things out for
themselves. They also learn about the environment and, of course, do art, music and P.E. Children
have the same teacher for one year and she teaches nearly all of the lessons in the class. Perhaps
another teacher has them once a week for music or physical training. The government is discussing
changing this so that there are more specialist teachers in the Junior Schools. The children would then
have different teachers for different lessons. The usual age for transfer from primary school to
secondary school is 11 (12 in Scotland).

SECONDARY EDUCATION

At the age of 11 pupils transfer from primary school to secondary
school. About 90 per cent of state secondary school pupils go to
Comprehensive schools. These were introduced in 1960s and the word
"comprehensive" means all-inclusive. Most of these schools are very large
and vary in size, 900 to 1,500 pupils is the most common. They take children
of all abilities and provide a wide range of secondary education, both
academic and practical, for all or most of the children in a district within the 11-
to 18- age range (12 to 18 in Scotland).
About four per cent of children attend Grammar Schools which they
enter at the age of 11 on the basis of their abilities. Grammar Schools offer a
mainly academic education for the 11 to 18 or 19-year age group.
Six per cent of children attend Secondary Modern Schools which
provide a more general education up to the age of 16, although pupils can stay beyond the minimum
leaving age.

At the age of 16 students may leave secondary school and enter some type of training courses.
65 % of all children leave the secondary school.

FURTHER EDUCATION

All 16- and 17-years olds are guaranteed a place in full-time education or training and all
suitable qualified people are encouraged to go into higher education. Almost 65 per cent of young
people receive some form of further education (after the age of 16). Further education is provided both by the top two classes of a comprehensive and grammar school and by independent six-form
colleges or tertiary colleges. Six-form colleges are schools which provide academic and nonacademic
education beyond the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education), while tertiary
colleges offer a range of full-time and part-time vocational courses as well as more academic ones.
Many students attend college part-time, either by day or block release from employment or in the
evening.

When students leave secondary school at the age of 18, they can enter either - training courses
or universities.

NATIONAL CURRICULUM FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

In order to raise educational standards, the Government has introduced the National
Curriculum in state schools in England and Wales and has given school education of 14- to 18-years
olds a more practical basis. The object is to make the education more relevant to the working
environment and to improve skills in science, technology and modern languages. Pupils in their last
year of compulsory schooling are encouraged to undertake a period of work experience as part of their
education. Previously, many students had tended to specialize too early, dropping important subjects
like science, technology and foreign languages.
The National Curriculum defines four key stages, and ten statutory subjects:

key stage 1 age 5-7 (infants)

key stage 2 age 7-11 (juniors)

key stage 3 age 11-14 (PRE-GCSE)

key stage 4 age 14-16 (preparation for GCSE)

The three "core" subjects are English, mathematics and science and there are seven other
"foundation" subjects - information technology, history, geography, music, art, physical education
and modern foreign languages (in Wales Welsh is also a core or foundation subject).

All children in key stages 1 to 3 must study the first nine of these subjects.

In key 3 stage they must also study a modern foreign language (pupils in Wales
must also study Welsh).

Pupils aged 14 to 16 must currently study the core subjects, technology, a
modern foreign language and physical education plus either history or
geography or short courses in both.

Parents must be sent an annual report on their child's progress at school, including assessment
and examination results.

Also not part of the National Curriculum, religious education for all pupils, and sex education for
pupils in the secondary phase are statutory requirements. All schools must hold daily collective
worship. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from both religious education and sex
education classes, and from collective worship.

The curriculum in Scotland and Northern Ireland is only slightly different.

QUALIFICATION

The main qualification taken by secondary pupils at around the age of 16 is the General
Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). If the results are good pupils can stay on and prepare
other two years for A-examination.

The General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced (A) level is normally taken after other
two years of study in two or three subjects. GCE A level is currently the main standard for entrance to higher education and many forms of professional training. This examination is marked by a board,
which is connected with universities. Three good A levels mean that the student has a chance to go to
university or some other form of higher education. The Government would like to see more schools
offer vocational qualifications; therefore it has introduced a new type of vocational qualification - the
General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) which will provide pupils an alternative to the
more traditional GCEs and A levels.

The Scottish system is slightly different.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Children with special educational needs are educated in ordinary schools, wherever possible.
Other children attend day and boarding special schools.

Most children of minority ethnic communities share the same schools as the British children. If
they do not speak English well enough, they are given help to improve their English to be able to enter normal schools.
Schools and colleges provide careers education and guidance through careers co-ordinators.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

About seven per cent of children attend independent or private schools not funded by the state.
These schools charge high tuition fees of about 4,000 a term for senior boarding pupils, but many offer scholarships. Independent schools range from small kindergartens to large day and boarding schools and from new experimental schools to ancient foundations. Around 550 independent schools for pupils aged 11 to 19 are commonly known as "public" schools, although they receive no state funding. Most independent schools for younger pupils are mixed, but the majority of private secondary schools are single-sex. Most schools require school uniforms.

Public schools accept pupils at the age of about 13 and Preparatory schools (called "prep"
schools) prepare children for entry to the public schools.

Names of some of the most outstanding public schools together with the date of their foundation
are: Eton (close to Windsor, 1440), Harrow (London, 1571), Winchester (1382), Rugby (1567),
Shrewsbury (1552), Westminster (London, 1560), St. Paul's (London, 1509, day-school). These
schools are very old but there are others which are even older: St. Peter's (York, 627) and St.
Alban's (Hertfordshire, 948).

Most public schools are boarding schools and they have about 500 pupils but Eton is much
larger. Some public schools are called "Colleges" (Eton College, Winchester College).

Although many independent schools follow the National Curriculum, their students do not have
to pass tests. The quality of individual schools varies, but very often the most prestigious schools are
very good.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Around 30 per cent of all young people in Britain go into full-time higher education. Higher
education covers all post-school courses above GCE A level standard. Higher education institutions
include universities, teacher training colleges and other colleges of technology, art, and profession
allied to medicine. Britain has 89 universities, including the Open University, and 70 other HE
institutions. All these institutions enjoy complete academic freedom, which includes appointing their
own staff and deciding which students to admit, what and how to teach and which degree to award.
British universities can be divided into three groups:

Oxford (1167) and Cambridge (1229) - the oldest and most famous universities. In Scotland
there are St. Andrew’s (1411), Glasgow (1451), Aberdeen (1494) and Edinburgh (1583)
"Redbrick universities" which were founded in 19th century - London (1836), Manchester
(1851), Wales (1893).

Universities opened in 20th century, mostly after 1960 - Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool,
Reading, Nottingham, Exeter, Sussex, York. There are also new universities in Scotland such as
Strathclyde in Glasgow, Herriot-Watt in Edinburgh, Dundee and Stirling. There were two waves of
opening new universities after World War II. One in the 1960s when such universities as Sussex in
Brighton, York (both 1963), Warwick in Coventry, Kent in Canterbury were established. The other
wave came in the 1990s when 39 new universities were created.

The Open University is Britain's main distance-learning institution for adults (established in 1969). No formal academic qualifications are required to enrol in undergraduate courses, but the standards of its degrees and other qualifications are as high as other universities.

Most university courses last between two and four years. Sandwich courses, which include a period
of work experience outside the institution, can extend the length of the course by up to a year, and
medical and veterinary courses require five or six years. Although most students take degree courses,
some are on sub-degree courses such as Higher National Diploma (HND) or Diploma in Higher
Education (Dip HE).

Students, who start to study at university, are called "undergraduates". Degree titles vary
according to the practice of each university. A Bachelor's degree (Bachelor of Arts - B.A., Bachelor of Science - B.Sc.) is given to students who pass examinations at the end of three or four years of study.

Bachelors are called "graduates" and they can study further to get Master's Degree. The Master's
degree (Master of Arts - M.A., Master of Science - M.Sc.) may be obtained by attending a
postgraduate course or by writing a paper, or thesis.

The degree of Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) is given for a thesis both in humanities and
science (e. g. Ph.D., in Physics, English, History, etc.). A medical student can either take his whole
training in the medical school of a teaching hospital, or complete his training in hospital after taking a
degree.

Those who do not want to study at universities can be trained in some training courses (in
nursing, secretaries, banking, accountancy, manufacturing or service industry).

Online Education System In Unites States Of America

The American education system is unlike that in many other countries. Though the U.S. Federal government contributes almost 10% to the national education budget, education is primarily the responsibility of state and local government.

For example, in Minnesota, almost 80 percent of public education funds come from state sources. About 17 percent comes from local sources, while less than 5 percent comes from the Federal government. 

Every State has its own department of education and laws regulating finance, the hiring of school personnel, student attendance, and curriculum. 

So, every state has great control over what is taught in its schools and over the requirements that a student must meet, and it is also responsible for the funding of schooling. 

In most States, the public education system is further divided into local school districts, which are managed by a school board, representing the local community. School districts can be small, covering just a small town or rural county, or enormous, covering a whole large city; according to their local policy, they are responsible for coordinating education policies, planning for changing educational needs in the community, and often even establishing programs and curricula. They will also delegate a varying amount of freedom or independence to each individual school within their sector (with some exceptions, such as general rules concerning health and safety). 

Public schools have also relied heavily on local property taxes to meet the vast majority of school expenses. American schools have thus tended to reflect the educational values and financial capabilities of the communities in which they are located. 

Therefore, there is huge variation among schools regarding courses, subjects, and other activities – it always depends on where the school is located. Still, there are some common points, as e.g. the division of the education system into three levels: elementary/primary education, secondary education, and postsecondary/higher education (college or university). 

Formal schooling lasts 12 years, until around age 18. Compulsory schooling, though, ends by age 16 in most states; the remaining states require students to attend school until they are 17 or 18. All children in the United States have access to free public schools. Private schools (religious and non-sectarian) are available, but students must pay tuition to attend them.

Many states and communities provide schools or special classes for children with special educational needs, including those with emotional and behavioural problems, moderate and severe learning difficulties, communication problems, partial hearing or physical disabilities. There are also private schools catering for gifted and talented children, and most public schools have gifted and talented programs. 

In the following description of the U.S. education structure, we will focus on early childhood, primary and secondary education systems. 

How Age is counted in the United States 

In the United States, a person's age is counted starting from physical birth (rather than, as in some cultures for example, from conception). 

Newborns start at zero, and each passing of a 12 months period from the original date of birth adds one year to the person's age. So, for example, if a child was born on February 9th, 2000, the same child would be: 1 year old on February 9th, 2001; two years old on February 9th, 2002; and so forth.

Education System Structure

DayCareis one form of early childhood education. Day Care refers to early childhood settings that focus their goal on substitute care for children while their parents are absent (i.e.: working or in school). They could involve academic training, or they could involve solely socializing activities. Day Care is not required and is not free; in fact, depending on the setting, it could be quite expensive. Day Care programs usually offer daily programs, for up to 12 hours. Meals, depending on the school, may be provided by the family or by the school. Transportation to and from the program is generally the responsibility of parents. Some private day care programs might offer private transportation, but these are the exception rather than the rule. Parents’ degrees of use of Day Care services vary greatly across families, depending on their specific situation (i.e.: parents’ schedule, availability of funding, etc.).

Pre-School (also called Pre-K or PK or Pre-Kindergarten) refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins around the age of three in order to prepare for the more didactic and academically intensive kindergarten, the traditional "first" class that school children participate in.

Pre-School is not required. On the other hand, it acts as a way to prepare children to better succeed in a kindergarten. Pre-School programs usually offer two- or three-hour sessions per day, a few days per week. Children learn the alphabet, colors, and other elementary basics.

Pre-School programs are not free: they have to be financed by the family. Meals, depending on the school, may be provided by the family or by the school. Transportation to and from the program is generally the responsibility of parents (although some pre-school programs might make busing available to families for a fee; these programs are the exception, rather than the rule). 

To learn more about Day Care and Pre-School Programs, and to access additional resources available to you, visit theDay Care and Pre-School Educationsection.

Age 5 years to 18 years: 

K-12 U.S. educators frequently use the terms K-12 education to refer to all primary and secondary education, from Kindergarten prior to the first year (or 1st grade) of formal schooling, through secondary graduation (12th Grade).  

One of the following four patterns usually prevails in the community:

 Elementary school (K-5), middle school (6-8), high school (9-12); 

U.S. children enter formal schooling around age 5. The first pattern (see above) is the most common one. Elementary students are typically in one classroom with the same teacher most of the day.

After elementary school, students proceed to junior high school (also called middle school), where they usually move from class to class each period, with a new teacher and a new mixture of students in every class. Students can select from a wide range of academic classes and elective classes. 

During both Elementary and Middle School (or Junior High), children generally stay in the classroom an average of 6.5 to 7 hours. Families have the option to select before and after school programs < School-Age Child Care >, which are generally made available through the school. However, these programs are not free: the family will have to finance their cost. If the programs are in a location different from the school grounds, transportation from and to school will be provided by the school. 

In High School, students in their first year are called freshman, in their second year sophomore, in their third year junior, and in their last and fourth year senior. 

There is an even greater variety of subjects than before. Students generally stay in the classroom an average of 7.5 hours and must earn a certain number of credits (which they get for a successfully completed course) in order to graduate and be awarded with a High School Diploma – there is no final examination like in many other countries. 

The number and combination of classes necessary depend on the school district and on the kind of diploma desired. The following two links are examples of different high school graduation requirements: 

Only with a high school diploma students can enroll in postsecondary education. It is important to know that colleges and universities sometimes require certain high school credits or tests (e.g. SAT) for admission, and students must plan their high school career with those requirements in mind. 

During their high school years, students are given "grades" for all their courses, and these are recorded. At the end of 12th Grade, the pupil's grades are averaged out to provide a "GPA" or Grade Point Average, which will often be used as a selection criterion when they apply to college or university. Students in 12th Grade also take "SAT's", Scholastic Aptitude Tests, or “ACTs”, American College Tests. These are the second principal tests used as criteria for admission to college or university; but they are not exams in the same way as their European or Japanese equivalents (French baccalauréat, German Abitur, English "A" levels), and are generally less demanding. 

The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a non-profit organization in the United States. The College Board claims that the SAT can determine whether or not a person is ready for college. The current SAT Reasoning Test takes three hours and forty-five minutes. Since the SAT's introduction in 1901, its name and scoring has changed several times. In 2005, the test was renamed as "SAT Reasoning Test" with possible scores from 600 to 2400 combining test results from three 800-point sections (math, critical reading, and writing), along with other subsections scored separately. The test consists almost entirely of multiple choice questions, with the exception of the essay writing section. 

The ACT test is another standardized test for college admission in the United States. The ACT test assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. It consists of a multiple-choice section covering four skill areas (English, mathematics, reading, and science), and a Writing Test, which is optional, measuring skill in planning and writing a short essay. 

Separation of State and Religion 

The US constitution requires the separation of state and religion and forbids religious observance in public schools, but in some schools children are still expected to participate in the ritual morning pledge of allegiance to the American flag in many schools (although the words ‘under God’ are optional). 

Parental Involvement 

An aspect of the US education system is the high degree of parental involvement. ‘Parent power’ isn’t only accepted, but is welcomed and encouraged through local Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) attached to every school. PTAs meet regularly and concern themselves with many aspects of a school’s affairs including the curriculum, facilities, school hours and after-school activities and programs. Parents are encouraged to attend meetings and show an interest in the school and their children’s education (it’s also a good way for newcomers to make friends). Schools organize parent days, ‘back to school’ nights and parent-teacher conferences, where parents can meet teachers and examine their child’s school timetable. 

Individual Responsibility

Individual responsibility has an important place in the American value system. This value is taught to children from a young age. For example, beginning from kindergarten, each year students are given a handbook that outlines the details of the school’s policies and procedures, and the consequences for violating them. The handbook includes policies on Hazing, Personal Possessions, and Harassment, and is designed to help parents and students understand the district’s guidelines for acceptable behavior in all of these areas. BOTH parents and students are expected to read it and sign a form attesting they are aware of their rights and responsibilities. Many teachers also ask students to sign a handout detailing policies and procedures to follow in their classes.