II. Read the following texts and do the activities that follow them.

Children in Britain must attend school from the age of 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) until they are 16. Before the start of formal schooling, many children attend nursery schools attached to primary schools. In addition some parents elect to send their children to private(fee-paying) nursery schools or kindergartens. In England and Wales, many primary schools also operate an early admission policy where they admit children under 5 into what are called reception classes.

Children first attend infants' schools or departments. At 7 they move to the junior school and the usual age for transfer from junior to secondary school is 11 (12 in Scotland). In some areas, however, "first" schools take pupils aged 5 to 8, 9 or 10, and pupils within the 8 to 14 age range go to middle schools.

The British educational system was changed in the 1960s. Previously, pupils in the state system either went to a grammar school or a secondary modern school. At the age of eleven. To enter a grammar school, pupils had to pass a national exam (the Eleven Pius). Those who failed went to a secondary modern school. This two-school system and the Eleven Plus were abolished and replaced by comprehensive schools. These are intended for all pupils, whatever their abilities. They are state schools which is the general term. For any school which is run by the government and where the parents do not have to pay. Over 85% of secondary school pupils go to comprehensive schools. However, 145 grammar schools in England didn't close down. They are very popular because they offer a good academic education for the 11 to 18 -year age group. Children enter grammar schools on the basis of their abilities, first sitting the "11" plus or entrance examination. In grammar schools there is usually a main school and a sixth form (the last one) which is run separately. Grammar schools cater for 4% of children in secondary education.

A small minority of children attend secondary modern schools (around 4%). These schools provide a more general and technical education for children aged 11-16.

City Technology Colleges (CTCs) aim to give boys and girls a broad secondary education with a strong technological and business slant. They are non-fee-paying independent schools, set up by the Government with the help of business sponsors who finance a large proportion of the initial capital costs and develop links with the schools. There are now 15 such colleges in operation in England and Wales.

Specialist schools, which only operate in England, give pupils a broad secondary education with a strong emphasis on technology, languages, art and sports. There are over 250 specialist schools. They charge no fees and any secondary school can apply for specialist school status.

The independent school sector is separate from the state educational system, and caters for 7% of all schoolchildren in England and 4% in Scotland. About 250 of the larger independent schools are known for historical reasons as public schools. They are very expensive private schools and in some cases fees can amount to several thousand pounds a year. Some students gain scholarships and their expenses are covered by the schools. These schools usually have good academic standards and are attended by pupils from an upper class or wealthy background. Famous ones include Eton and Harrow. Eton, which was founded in 1440, is said to have been the first "public school" because students could come to it from any part of England and not, as was generally the case, just from the immediate neighbourhood. Most public schools are boarding schools where the pupils live as well as study.

In Northern Ireland there are a few fee-paying schools, and in Scotland "public schools" are supported by public funds and are not fee-paying and independent.

 

III. Match each word in the left-hand column with the best meaning in the right-hand column. Place the letter of the best definition in the space provided:

                                1.School which takes children from 11 to 16(18). This is one of the types of comprehensive schools. 2.Secondary school which takes all the children from a particular area (catchment area) and offers all kinds of courses. 3.Secondary school, receiving pupils on a selective basis and providing mainly academic education. 4.School outside the state system run by its own proprietor or governing body. 5.Primary school for children about 5 to 7 (8). 6.Primary school for children from 8 to 11. 7.Secondary school giving a general education with a practical bias. 8.School maintained by a local education authority, including county, voluntary aided, controlled and special agreement school. 9.School for children under 5. 10.Primary and secondary school for pupils who need special treatment because of some mental or physical handicap. a) all-through school;     b)special school;     c) junior school;     d)modern school;   e)grammar school; f)infant school; g)maintained school;   h)comprehensive school;     i)independent school; j)nursery school.

 

Primary education

In nursery schools there are no formal lessons, the time is spent in play, story-telling, singing, dancing, and learning through practice of good personal and social habits.

In infant schools where children start at the age of five, the first two years are mainly taken up with learning to read, write and do simple sums. In addition the children draw, paint, model, act, sing and have physical education and religious knowledge.

In junior school, and even in infant school there is "streaming". Children are placed in А, В, С streams immediately on entry at seven, so the children are graded. The streams show whether a child is able, average, or retarded. In the top class of the primary school children take the eleven-plus examination which will decide to which type of secondary school they will go. The eleven-plus examination includes an Intelligence Test which is supposed to determine a child's inborn intelligence, or mental abilities. The children are given a large number of short questions (50 - 100) to answer. The time is limited. The success of the Intelligence Test depends on the social ground of a family and on how effectively the child has been taught and coached for the Test. Every child gets his (or her) Intelligence Quotient (IQ), i.e. his mental abilities level. Here is an example of a question included in the Test:

If 3,546,849 means strength, what does 10 mean? (weakness - half a minute for answer). The 20 to 25 per cent of children receiving the highest marks in this examination can go to one type of secondary school - the grammar school, which prepares for the university. Most of the rest of the children must go to other types of secondary schools, most of which, do not have courses beyond the age of 15 years.

 

Assignments

I.Fill in prepositions where necessary:

Can you remember your first day ... school? It was probably rather confusing. I am sure you ran ... your mother thinking she was deserting you. When the child goes ... school ... his first day, he has to watch ... his mother leaving. The teacher must convince him that ... the end ... the day his mother and his home will still be there. It is difficult to make the newcomer join ... game or a walk. A new life, completely different ... what he is used ... begins.

The mothers are as upset as their children. They hang ..., their eyes fixed ... their children and dislike leaving them ... their fate.

The best way to deal ... the situation is to get the child used ... the idea ... school, to help him ... every way. Much depends ... the parents. ... the beginning ... the term the mother should take her child to see the teacher and to look ... the school. The first day should be something to look ... and not to be feared.

 

Secondary education