|
Culture Corner The Education System in the UK Education in the UK is compulsory for everyone between the ages of five and sixteen. It is provided by two kinds of schools: government and private. Private schools are considered better than government schools but are usually quite expensive. Kindergarten. At the age of three or four, many children start at nursery schools or kindergartens. Here children do not learn any subjects. Instead they learn how to play with other children in preparation for school. Primary. Children start their formal education at five. In primary school, students learn the basic skills and knowledge that they will need for the rest of their education. Secondary. At eleven, students enter secondary school. They take the state exams or GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) at the age of sixteen. Students take between 8-12 GCSEs in a range of subjects that always include mathematics, science, English, and at least one foreign language. Further Education. Students may legally leave school and find a job at the age of 16. However, most students continue into further education. Students who pass 5 or more subjects at GCSE can go to a Sixth-Form college for another two years to study GCEA levels (General Certificate of Education Advanced Level). Most students study three or four subjects at A level. They must work very hard because good A level results are needed to get into a good university. Some students decide to go to Further Education colleges and study more vocational courses. These might include subjects like photography, design or even building and carpentry. These courses are less academic and are designed to train students for a specific career. Most of these courses take about two years. Higher Education. Most students enter university at 18 years old,although many students decide to take time out from study after finishing A levels and usually start at university a year later. More and more students nowadays are entering higher education in the UK,and about one in three people now go to university. Students at university study for a degree. A degree course lasts three to four years. After a degree, a student can continue their studies by taking an MA or a PhD. But, most students finish their studies after completing their degree. 文化广角 英国的教育体系 在英国每个年龄在五岁到十六岁之间的孩子必须接受义务教育。 这种教育由两种学校提供：公立学校和私立学校。 私立学校被认为比公立学校好，但是通常都很贵。 幼儿园。很多孩子在三四岁的时候开始上托儿所或幼儿园。 孩子们在这里不学习任何科目。 相反，他们学的是如何与其他孩子一起玩耍，为上学做准备。 小学。孩子们五岁开始接受正式教育。 在小学里，学生们学习他们在以后的教育中需要用到的基本技能和知识。 中学。十一岁时，学生们进入中学。 他们在16岁时参加全国考试或GCSEs（中等教育普通证书）的考试。 学生们参加8至12门一系列学科的GCSE考试，通常包括数学、科学、英语，还有至少一门外语。 继续教育。学生们在十六岁就可以合法离开学校，找一份工作。 不过，大多数的学生会继续接受进一步的教育。 在GCSE考试中通过5门或以上科目的学生可以去六年级学校再学习两年的GCEA水平课程（高等教育普通证书）。 大多数学生学习三到四门高级水平的课程。 他们必须很努力学习，因为进入一所好的大学需要高级水平的好成绩。 一些学生决定去进修学院，学习更职业化的课程。 这些课程可能包括摄影、设计甚至建筑和木工。 这些课程理论较少，专为训练学生从事一份特定的职业而设计。 这些课程大部分需要两年时间。 高等教育。大部分学生18岁进入大学，虽然很多学生决定完成高级水平学习后暂停学习，通常在一年后开始上大学学习。 现在，英国越来越多的学生接受高等教育，大约每三人中有一人上大学。 大学生们为获得一个学位而学习。 一个学位课程要三到四年。 获得学位之后，学生可以继续学习，获得硕士学位或博士学位。 但是大多数学生获得学位之后就结束了他们的学业。 |
