Britain under the Microscope – Going to School
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·????? This is more about theeducation system in England
·????? Type of schools
o?? Primary School (4/5 to 11)
o?? Secondary School (11 to 16)
§? Comprehensive (free and open to all)
§? Does the GCSE (exams and coursework)
o?? Sixth Form (attached to aschool)/College (16 to 18)
·????? Characteristics ofschools in the UK
o?? Public education is free foreveryone in the UK
o?? Compulsory for all childrenbetween 5 and 16
o?? Ran by a (older) headmaster/headmistressor head teacher
§? Normally they lead an assembly once a week – students might singsongs, listen to a story with a moral by the head teacher
o?? Classes of a maximum of around30 students
§? Teachers are normally called ‘Sir’ or ‘Miss’
§? The same teacher usually teaches all subjects at primary school
§? Different teachers teach different subjects at secondary school
o?? Pupils (why not students?) have to wear a uniform
o?? The school year is three terms(not semesters as in the US)
§? Autumn (Sept to Dec); Spring (Jan to March) and Summer (Apr to July)
§? ‘break up for’ End of term holidays are generally 2 weeks – summeris 6 weeks - and half-term hols for a week (October, February and May)
o?? The school day is on averagefrom 9:00 am to 3:30 pm?
o??Do they do anything after-school? Any cram schools? After-school activities are popular (music clubs, dance clubs,sports)
o?? Children also go on schooltrips, excursions and have a sport’s day once a year
·????? Public and privateeducation
o?? Many people who watch HarryPotter might think schools in the UK are like Hogwarts
o?? There are schools that areslightly similar!
o?? These are public or privateschools that parents have to pay for – usually very expensive
o?? Schools like Eton and Harrowhave been around for hundreds of years
o?? These schools are normallyboarding – students have to live there
o?? The expressions about publicschool
§? “The old school tie” or “the old boy network” – former public schoolstudents who help each other
·????? Expressions about school
o?? “as easy as ABC” – somethingthat is very simple or easy
o?? “teacher’s pet”
o?? “to pass with flyingcolours”
o?? “from the old school/ofthe old school” - Holding attitudes or ideas that were popular and important inthe past, but which are no longer considered relevant or in-line with moderntrends.
o?? ?“to learn by heart”
