Introduction.

Great Britain is one of the most developed countries in the world.
Great Britain enters into the number of countries of “large eight”.

We all know that the Britains are very cultural people and many possess an outstanding mind. What makes them similar? National culture, heredity, traditions or may be education? But do many people in our country know about education in other countries? Many students would like to know about how their contemporaries in other countries live. In what schools do they study? Does the state ensure all them with necessary means for studying?
What are their chances to obtain higher or technical education for worthy life in the future?

This article opens the curtain above education in Britain and contains sufficiently complete and comprehensive information for the student and school staff. The purpose of this article is to study the system of education in Britain and to look at from an objective point of view.

In the second half of the 20-century qualitative changes in education system occurred in Britain: the system of education began to be more oriented towards the development of useful knowledge. But in spite of this in the British system of education many survivals of the past, which strongly harm education, still remained.

In this synopsis the following reductions are accepted:

. A-level (advance level) – an examination usually taken by pupils at their final year at school at the age of eighteen. The exam was introduced in 1951. A-levels are needed to enter most types of higher education and a student must usually have three good grades to enter university.

. AS level (advanced supplementary level) – an examination taken by some pupils in their final year at school when they are taking their A- level. The AS level is a simpler examination than the A-level and can be studied in half the time. The exam was first introduced in 1989 and is intended to give pupils the chance to study a greater variety of subjects.

. Cathedral school (choir school) – a school in a cathedral city, usually a preparatory school or, occasionally, a public school, some of their pupils sing in the cathedral choir.

. College of Further Education (CFE) – a local college attended mostly by students between the ages of 16 and 19 who are working for the

NVQ’s and practical qualifications; by some students taking A-levels and by mature students doing part-time courses.

. College – 1. An independent institution of higher education within a university, typically one at Oxford University or Cambridge

University. 2. A specialized professional institution of secondary higher education, such as a college of music or a college of education. 3. The official title of certain public schools, such as

Eton College.

. Comprehensive school – a large state secondary school for children of all abilities from a single district, providing a wide range of education. Over 90% of all secondary school students attend a comprehensive school. Comprehensive schools were introduced in 1965 to provide an equal secondary (11 – 18 years old) education.

Comprehensive schools put pupils in different classes according to their ability, but there are no entry examinations.

. Further education – a term used to apply to any kind of education after secondary school, but not including university work (which is higher education).

. General Certificate of Education, the (GCE) – the standard school- leaving examination. It is taken by school pupils at the end of their fifth year of secondary education, at the age of 16. The GCE replaced the formed dual examination system of GCE O-level (General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level) and SCE (Certificate of Secondary

Education, Ordinary Level), and the first GCSE examination were held in 1988. GCSE certificates are awarded for each subject on a seven- point scale, from A to G, and the examination’s syllabus and grading procedures are monitored by the School Examination and Assessment

Council.

. Local Educational Authority (LEA) – the local government body that is responsible for the state schools in a district, as well as further education, and that engages teachers, maintains school buildings and supplies schools with equipment and materials.

. National Curriculum (NC) – was introduced into the education system in

1989. Until that time LEA decided on the curriculum, the subjects which would be taught in school in their area. The NC is designed to make a national standard for all school pupils between the ages of 5 to 16. The main subjects are English, Mathematics, Science and a foreign language, either French or German. There are examinations for all pupils at the ages of 7, 11, 14, and 16 to check on their progress.

. Oxbridge – a colloquial term for the universities of Oxford and

Cambridge, jointly regarded as being superior to other universities and as enjoying and giving special privilege and prestige.