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Schools in Britain, Schools in the USA - Coggle Diagram
Schools in Britain
are of two types
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state (or maintained) schools
(charge no fees)
are funded by the government through the local education authority (LEA)
are primary, for children aged 5 to 11
Below are nursery schools, for children under 5.
in some areas
first schools for children of 5 to 9
middle schools for ages 9 to 13
secondary or upper schools
can be county schools, owned as well as funded by the LEA
can be voluntary schools, founded by a voluntary body such as the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church
are secondary, for pupils aged 11 to 16 or 18
selection procedure
secondary modern schools
(offering a more practical education)
grammar schools
(providing a more academic education)
technical schools
(offering a combination of academic and technical teaching)
special schools for children with a physical or mental disability
mostly have larger classe
subjects are determined by the National Curriculum
a course of central ('core') subjects
English, mathematics and science
seven basic ('foundation') subjects
history, geography, technology, music, art, physical
education
a modern foreign language
(in secondary schools)
are required to include religious education in their syllabus
they must hold a daily act of worship
independent (or private) schools
(fee-paying is usually several
thousand pounds per year)
preparatory schools
(for pupils aged 7 to 13)
prepare pupils for entrance to public school
public schools
(for pupils aged 13 to 18)
are very well equipped
classes are smaller
teachers' salaries are higher
many have a sustained record of academic excellence
almost all are boarding schools
(for one sex only)
it is possible for a child to win an 'assisted place'
the school year
runs from early September to mid-July
is divided into three terms of about 12 weeks each
all children must receive a full-time education from the age of 5 until 16
all schools share the same school-leaving examinations
The main exam is the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
(normally taken at the age of 16)
pupils sit papers in different subjects (usually five or more) and are awarded a grade in each subject on a seven-point scale A to G
GCSE
(two years after)
this is usually done in two or three subjects only
( A level ('A' meaning 'Advanced'))
are organized by a particular university, such as the Cambridge University Local Examinations Syndicate or the University of Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations
S level
('S' for 'Special' or 'Scholarship")
provides additional, harder papers for A-level students
A/S-level
('Advanced Supplementary')
is an alternative to A level, with subjects studied on a broader, less specialized basis
are marked by one of the regional examining boards
classes
'year'
(especially in state schools)
'form'
(more in independent schools)
the fifth form is the senior class
Schools in the USA
state schools
,
known as 'public schools, which are free
most children (at least eight out of 10) attend public schools
private schools,
which charge fees
are sponsored by a religious organization such as a church, and are often known as 'parochial schools'.
Religious instruction is part of the curriculum in private schools, but is not given in public schools.
one type is
the 'preparatory school' or 'prep school',
so-called as it prepares for university entrance
the school year
runs from early September to mid-June
with a continuous weekly attendance of five hours a day, five days a week, apart from seasonal holidays
the main types of school are
elementary school, for children aged 6-12 or 6-14
grades 1 to 6
basic subjects are 'language arts' (reading, grammar, composition and literature), 'penmanship' (writing), science, social studies (incorporating history and geography), music, art, and physical education
high school for students aged 14 or 15 to 18
grades 10 to 12
subjects are English, science and mathematics, social studies and physical education
the criterion for a particular student's high school graduation is the number of 'units'
a high school unit equals about 120 hours (three hours a week) of classes in one subject
the average state requirement is 17.5 units (over 20 units)
junior high schools for 12-15-year-olds
grades 7 to 9
there is
no
national curriculum
there are
no
national examinations