Preschool education includes nursery schools or kindergartens. Education starts with nursery school. Children go there at the age of 2-5. These schools develop children's elementary skills. There are private and state nursery schools. In each classroom there are about 20-25 children. Here they play, have lunch and sleep. Children often go for a walk and learn to read, simple counting and drawing.
All children start primary school by the age of 5. Primary education lasts for six years. They attend the infant school from 5 to 7 and then junior school until they are 11. P R I M A R Y E D U C A T I O NIn infants schools the methods are close to methods of nursery schools. The classroom is free and sometimes noisy. Children work in groups, they learn to read, write and count. At the age of 7 children are ready for the juniors schools. Here they study arithmetic, reading and composition. Also kids learn history, geography and nature study. And at the age of 11 they are ready for the next level.
Secondary education. At the age of 11-15 students in Britain go to secondary school. They study English, Maths, Science,Design and technology, Information and Communication Technology(ICT), History, Geography, Art, Music, Physical education and foreign languages. They can attend comprehensive schools, public schools or students can study at home.
The National Exam. At secondary school studentsstudy for 5 years. At the age of 16students take national examscalled GCSE. GCSE means General. Certificate of Secondary Education. All the students are required totake it. The results often help thestudents and their parents tomade a choice whether they willgo to college or not.
HIGHER EDUCATIONHigher education begins at 18 and usually lasts three or four years. Students go to universities, polytechnicsor colleges of higher education. There are now about 80 universities in. Great Britain. British universities usually keep to the customs of the past. Upon graduation all the students have to wear long black gowns and “students caps”.
Degrees Awarded. Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) – after three years of full-time study. Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc) after a further one year full-time or two year part-time study. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D) – after at least three years of original research.