The British Education System

I. What is an independent school?

In the United Kingdom, schools are either state schools funded by government and are free for all pupils, or they are 1/_______________ schools and charge fees to the parents of the pupils. Almost all the schools taking part in the HMC Projects Scholarship Scheme are independent schools. In the United Kingdom independent schools have an excellent reputation for high standards of teaching and learning and almost all pupils go on to prestigious universities when they leave. There are also many excellent state schools, three of which award scholarships through HMC Projects. Scholarships to state schools can only be offered to students from countries in the EU.

II. Is school education the same throughout the United Kingdom?/Part1/

There are fundamental similarities. For instance, all boys and girls must attend full-time education until the age of 16. Many pupils stay on at school after that age to prepare themselves for university or other 2/_____________ In the independent schools, most pupils stay at school until the age of 18 and nearly all pupils go on to university after they leave school.

II. Is school education the same throughout the United Kingdom?/Part 2/

There are also significant divergences between practice in England and Wales, on the one hand, and in Scotland.

In England and Wales, the government introduced a 3/__________ Curriculum in 1988. This provides a framework for education between the ages of 5 - 18. All state schools are required to follow it. Independent schools are not required to follow this Curriculum in every detail, but they must show that they provide a good all-round education and they are inspected regularly every few years.

III. How does National Curriculum work? Part 1

The National Curriculum is constructed in five Key Stages:

·       Key Stage 1 - Foundation year and Years 1 to 2 - for pupils aged between 5 and 7 years old

·       Key Stage 2 - Years 3 to 6 - for pupils aged between 8 and 11 years old

·       Key Stage 3 - Years 7 to 9 - for pupils aged between 12 and 14 years old,

·       Key Stage 4 - Years 10 to 11 - for pupils aged between 15 and 16 years old, and

·       Key Stage 5 - Years 12 to 13 - for pupils aged between 17 and 18 years old.

In state schools each year that a pupil studies is given a number. Primary education starts in Year 1. Most pupils begin their secondary education at the age of 11 (Year 7), but in some HMC schools pupils join the school at 13+ (Year 9). At the age of 16 (the end of Key stage 4 and Year 11), all pupils take a series of exams called the , 4/_________________usually in about eight to ten subjects, which must include English and Mathematics. Key Stage 5 is for pupils aged 16-18 (sometimes 19) and most schools take Advanced Level exams after a two-year course.

IY. How does National Curriculum work?/Part 2

Almost all HMC Projects Scholars enter the first year of Key Stage 5. All pupils entering Year 12 (of the thirteen years of the National Curriculum) are beginning 5/_____________ courses at this point in their education.

In Scotland, pupils move to secondary education at the age of 12. At the age of 16 they take exams called Standard Grades and then move on to Highers and Advanced Highers. These are very similar to the English Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level courses.

Y. How many subjects do HMC Projects scholars study? Part 1

The majority of HMC Projects scholars will study on the Advanced level programme but a small number will study on the International Baccalaureate or Scottish Higher programmes.

·       i) Advanced levels: For the Advanced Level programme (Key Stage 5), nearly all pupils study three or, exceptionally, four subjects for two years and take examinations in these only at the end of the second year. They may also take one or even two additional subjects for one year only at Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level and take examinations in these at the end of the year. Some schools will offer examinations at AS level to pupils in those subjects they are studying for A level at the end of the first year of the two-year course. Universities use 6/___________Levels as entry qualifications.

·       ii) Scottish Highers: Students will take at least five subjects at Higher Level, reducing to three or four for their Advanced Higher courses.

iii) International Baccalaureate (IB): Increasing numbers of HMC schools are taking pupils for the International Baccalaureate, which is a 

parallel course to 

Fill in the gap with the appropriate part of the sentence

Y. How many subjects do HMC Projects scholars study? Part 2

·  Baccalaureate, which is a parallel course to Advanced Levels and equally well used by universities for entry qualifications. The IB requires students to take courses in six subjects, three at standard level and three at higher level. Students are also required to take a course in the theory of knowledge, to write 7/_______________________________ This course is very similar to the Baccalaureate courses which are commonly studied in Europe.

The pie chart above shows the relative number of scholarship places provided by schools through HMC Projects for A level (blue), IB (red) and Scottish Highers (green).

YI. How is the daily timetable organised? Part 1

Each school organises its timetable 8/______________. Lessons might last 35, 40, 45, 55 or 60 minutes! For each subject, a student will attend classes for about 5 hours a week, and is also expected to undertake at least 6 hours private study. Students will usually also attend classes in General Studies, or Philosophy, or other similar subjects. There will also be time given to Physical Education or Sport, whether or not these are taken as subjects for studying. In England and Wales and in some Scottish schools the two years of Advanced 

YI. How is the daily timetable organised? Part 2

Students will usually also attend classes in General Studies, or Philosophy, or other similar subjects. There will also be time given to 9/____________________

whether or not these are taken as subjects for studying. However, they are essential for the proper development of the future generation. In England and Wales and in some Scottish schools the two years of Advanced 

YII. Core Information about GCSE

At state schools students typically take 5 to 10 GCSEs, depending on the student's 10/___________ and drive. For independent schools, which are usually a lot more results driven, it is not uncommon for students to take as many as 11 or 12, focusing more on academic subjects compared to the arts.

GCSEs take a total of 2 years and mark the end of compulsory education for students in the UK. Once they have completed their GCSEs students have the choice to either move into further education (with a path to higher education) or can leave school and look for work.

YII. Core Information about GCSE Part 2

it is not uncommon for students to take as many as 11 or 12, focusing more on

11/_______________GCSEs take a total of 2 years and mark the end of compulsory education for students in the UK. Once they have completed their GCSEs students have the choice to either move into further education (with a path to higher education) or can leave school and look for work.

12/ GCSEs take a total of 2 years and mark 12_____________________of compulsory education for students in the UK. Once they have completed their GCSEs students have the choice to either move into further education (with a path to higher education) or can leave school and look for work.