Life in the UK Test
Chapter 5:EVERYDAY NEEDS
Education
Going to school
Education is one of the key priorities for any government
in the UK. Education system varies in England, Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland>
Education in the UK is free and compulsory
for all children between the ages of 5 and 16 (4 to 16 in
Northern Ireland.
The child’s parent or guardian is responsible
for making sure their child goes to school, arrives on time
and attends for the whole school year. If they failed to do
this parent or guardian may be prosecuted.
Some areas of the country offer free nursery
education for children over the age of THREE.
In most part of the UK Compulsory education divided into two
stages
- Primary education:
In England and Wales the primary stage lasts from 5 to 11,
in Scotland from 5 to 12 in Northern Ireland from 4 to 11
- Secondary education
The secondary stage lasts until the age of 16 At that age
young Second people can choose to leave school or to continue
with their education until the year l7 or l8.
Primary schools
These are usually schools where both boys
and girls learn together and are usually close to a child's home. Schools
encourage parents to help their children with learning, particularly
with reading and writing.
Secondary schools
At age 11 (12 in Scotland) children go to
secondary school. This will normally be the school nearest their
home, but parents in England and Wales are allowed to express
a preference for a different school. In some areas, getting
a secondary school place in a preferred school can be difficult.
In Northern Ireland many schools select children through a test
taken at the age of 11.
If the preferred school has enough places,
the child will be offered a place. If there are not enough places,
children will be offered places according to the school’s admission
arrangements. Admission arrangements vary from area to area.
Your local Education authority will give
you information on schools in your area.
Costs
Education at state schools in the UK is free,
but parents have to pay for school uniforms and sports wear.
There are sometimes extra charges for music lessons and for
school trips. Parents on low income can get help with these costs,
and with the cost of school meals. You can get advice on this
from the local education authority or the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Church and other faith school
Some primary and secondary schools in the
UK are linked to the Church of England or the Roman Catholic
Church. These are called faith schools
In some areas there are Muslim, Jewish and Sikh schools.
In Northern Ireland, some schools are called
Integrated Schools. These schools aim to bring children
of different religions together.
Independent schools
Independent schools are private schools. They
are not run or paid by the state. Independent secondary schools
are also sometimes called public schools. There are about 2,500
independent schools in the UK.Parents must pay the full cost of their
child’s education. Some independent schools offer scholarships
which pay some or all of the costs of the child’s education.
The school curriculum
All state schools in England, Wales
and Northern Ireland follow the National Curriculum.
This covers English, maths, science design and technology, information
and communication technology , history, geography, modern
foreign languages, art and design, music, physical education
(PE) and citizenship.
In Wales, children learn Welsh. In some
primary schools in wales lessons are taught is welsh.
In Scotland, pupils follow a broad curriculum
informed by national guidance. By law Scottish Schools must,
provide religious education (RE) to all children
But parents are allowed to withdraw their children from
RE lessons. RE lessons have a Christian basis but children also
learn about other major religions.
Assessment
In England, the curriculum is divided into
four stages, called Key Stages.
- Key stage one:
- Key stage Two:
- Key stage Three:
- Key stage Four:
Student Aptitude Tests(SAT) are held at the ages of 7,11 and 14.
Child Education
- Full time Education between the age of 5 and 16 is compulsory
by law.
Age 5 Compulsory
education starts
Age 7 National tests on English
Maths &Science
Age 11 National tests on English Maths
&Science only in England and wales
Age 14 National test on English, Maths
& science
Age 16 General Certificate of Secondary
Education (GCSE)
Age 17 General Certificate of Education
at an Advanced subsidiary level(AS)
Age 18 General Certificate of Education
at an Advanced level
One in three young people go to university
on the completion of AGCE.Some defer their university entrance
by one year(gap year) to do voluntary work and travel overseas.
People over 16 years of any age may choose
to study at colleges and further education or adult education centres.
Young people often do part time work such
as paper delivery,working in supermarkets or news agents. But
law only permit a certain types of jobs for a limited hours usually
not before 14 years.
See
more details
on this.
In Wales, schools follow the Welsh National
Curriculum but have abolished national tests for children at age
7 and 11. There are also plans in Wales to stop testing children
at 14. Teachers in Wales still have to assess and report on
their pupils’ progress and achievements at the ages of 7 and
11
In Scotland, the curriculum is divided into
two phases.
- The first phase: For age from 5 to 14
- Second phase further divided in to six A to F
After 16 years they can study at Intermediate,
Higher, Advanced level. In Scotland there will soon be a
single curriculum for all pupils from the age of 3 to the
age 18. This will be called
A curriculum for Excellence
Help with English
If your child’s main language is not English,
the school may arrange for extra language lessons from an EAL (English
Additional Language) specialist teacher.
Parents and schools
Many parents are involved with their child’s
school. A number of places on a school’s governing body are
reserved for parents. The governing body decides how the school
is run and administered. And produces report about the progress
of the school from year to year. In Scotland, parents can be
members of school boards or parent councils.
Schools must be open 190 days a year.Term
dates are decided by the governing body or by the local education
authority. Children must attend the whole school
year. As mentioned at the start of this lesson it’s the responsibility
of a parent or guardian to send children regularly and to report
any absence to the school.
Further education and adult education
At 16, young people can leave school or stay
on to do advanced level (Higher grades in Scotland) in preparation
for university. Some young people join their local further education
(FE) college to improve their exam grades or to get new qualifications
for a career. Many courses are free up to the age of 19.
Young people from families with
low incomes can get help with their studies when they leave
school at 16. This is called the Education Maintenance Allowance
(EMA). Information about this is available at your local college
or at
www.dfes.gov.uk.
Further education colleges also offer courses
to adults over the age of 18. These include courses for people
wishing to improve their skills in English. These courses are
called ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). In England
and Wales, ESOL, literacy and numeracy courses are also called Skills for Life courses, You can get formation at your
local college or local library or from learn
direct on 0800100 900.
University
More young people go to university now than
in the past. Many go after advanced levels (or Higher grades in Scotland)
at age 18. But it is also possible to go to university later
in life. At present, most students in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland have to pay towards the cost of their tuition fees and
to pay for their living expenses.
In Scotland there are no tuition fees but after
students finish their university, they pay back some of the cost
of their education in a payment called an endowment. At
present, Universities can charge up to £3,000 per year for
their tuition fee. But students do not have to pay anything
towards their fees before or during their studies.
The government pays their tuition fees and
then charges for them when a student started working after university.
Some families on low income receive help with their children’s tuition
fees. This is called a Grant The universities also give
help, in the form of bursaries. Most students get low-interest
student loan from banks. This pays for their living costs
while they are at university. When a student finishes university
and starts working, he or she must pay back the loan.
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