British Govt. Plans Changes in Education System

Finally the government has decided to act on the diminishing educational standards in britain, and has come up with some welcome proposals for reform in a new '5 Year Strategy.'

This sort of action counters any accusations of a premeditated and concious dumbing down of the British populous through the use of Comprehensive Schools, a system for mass education.

news.bbc.co.uk...

news.bbc.co.uk...


The strategy is available for download here:

www.dfes.gov.uk...




[edit on 8-7-2004 by Smokersroom]

Hopefully they'll follow through on the promise of 4% extra funding per-student.

I'm not sure about this plan to make schools more independent. It could end up leaving some schools behind as parents choose the most popular ones, and also children might be educated to different standards if schools are left to their own devices.

That said, the competition aspect might force schools to raise standards and improve education across the board.

[edit on 9-7-2004 by CiderGood_HeadacheBad]

I think this policy is a step in the right direction. More variety in education is an important thing, and I never liked the idea of every state pupil being taught exactly the same. A nation of clones isn't a good thing at all. They aren't being allowed to select on intelligence or ability, like the tory policy, and that too I think is good. By allowing schools to specialise, you allow kids to develop more real-world skills and experience that relates to something they might want to do in the future.

How is the education system in the U.K. organized? I know that here in Texas in the U.S., it's organized like this:

Elementary School
-----------------------
Kindergarden (preschool)
1st - 4th Grades

Middle School
-----------------
5th - 8th Grades

High School
---------------
9th - 12th Grades
-->You must pass state issued standardized tests for Math, Science, Social Studies, and English to graduate from High School in Texas, as well as complete all 12 Grades.

The average public school student is 5 years old when they begin Kindergarden, and 18 years old (a legal adult in Texas) when they graduate from High School.

Then you can do whatever you want; go to a Trade School, College, or just go right out into the work force...


[edit on 8/8/2004 by ThunderCloud]

We do it mostly like this (although can be slightly different for the area)

age 4 : Infant School

Age 7: Primary School

Age 11: Secondary School

Age 16: Sixth Form/College

We have to do GCSE's at the end of Secondary in at least 9 subjects including Maths, English, and Science.

Then in college/sixth form we do A levels in whatever we like.

Then after that on to Uni or more college.....

Age seven for primary school? I'm pretty sure it's age four or five. It was for me anyway but maybe it's different in England.

You do the first 2 years in infant school, and do years 3-6 in primary.
Hence you start when you are 7.


Although i started year one when I was 4, as I lived in Northern ireland at the time.

Although, some schools dont seem to distinguish between years 1 and 2 and merge them with 3-6, so it might all be in one school. The one near my mums house is split into an infant and junior school, so its all the same, just dependent on the school.

I started pre school when I was 4, then kindergarten when i was 5.

Californias educational system goes as such:

Preschool: 2-4

Elementary school: Kindergarten to 5th grade, ages 5-11
Junior High/Middle School: grades 6-8, ahes 11-14
Highschool: grades 9-12, ages 14-18

Some districts vary, like elementary school is grades k-6, then junior high is grades 7-9, then high school grades 10-12

To graduate, you had to take state exams. Reading, writing, math, science, history, social studies, geography, , govornment and economics, reading comprehension. Plus you must meet the state minimum requirements for credits/years of study.

Like, you had to have, starting from 9th grade, 4 years of english, 2 years of math, 2 years foreign language, 40 credits of electives, 3 years of physical fitness education, 1 year bio science, 1 year physical science, 1 semester geography, 1 semster driving, 1 semester guidance, 1 semster heath education (aka say no to drugs, lol), 1 year social studies, 1 year american history, 2 years world history.

California had one of the lowest graduation rates in the US (49% of students graduated, 51% dropped out). There are many reasons for this state of affairs.

Originally posted by Skadi_the_Evil_Elf
California had one of the lowest graduation rates in the US (49% of students graduated, 51% dropped out). There are many reasons for this state of affairs.

What are the reasons for this state of affairs in education in California, in your opinion?

kegs, I think it must be different form Scotland. Traditionally in England it's usually

3-8 Infants (I started young) (short trousers)
8-11 Primary school - 1st to 3rd year (short trousers)
11-16 Secondary School - 1st to 5th year (long trousers! woo hoo!)
16-18 Sixth form.(two years.. lower Sixth and upper Sixth)
then a couple of years of debauchery, then Uni for a degree (Major's only normally in the UK, no Minors)

The new numbering system(1,2,3,4,5 etc) means nothing to me though.. after my time!

Where does the term Sixth Form come from? What does it mean?

The years spent at secondary school used to be called yrs 1-5, after that you would go to 6th form. Now we usually call the years 7 through to 11 instead, so sixth form is an old reference from the time of steam trains and funny moustaches

Originally posted by stumason
The years spent at secondary school used to be called yrs 1-5, after that you would go to 6th form. Now we usually call the years 7 through to 11 instead, so sixth form is an old reference from the time of steam trains and funny moustaches

LOL. also "form" comes from a form, as in a long bench(which we used to sit on in our funny moustaches). In can mean a whole year, or one class in that year. ( a class being 30 people-ish).







[edit on 8-8-2004 by muppet]

I remember having to sit on those damn benches in assembly.... 20 mins of boring hymns and bible bashing accompanied by a sore arse

YOu lucky sod!! We had to sit on the floor until the sixth! Man those plastic stacking chairs felt good after that!

lol!! i think we had to floor it up until yrs 5 and 6, but then in secondary school everyone was on the floor except the 6th form, who lurked menacingly around the edge.....

Oh dear, I'm getting all nostalgic. it's a bit BTS, but how about the impromptu "mob rule" practical lessons in winter, otherwise known as Sixth form vs. The rest of the school massed snowball fights!! .

200 elite troops vs a disorganized rabble of 1000.... Chaaarrge!!! Retreat!!!

Hell yeah.... or Yr 11's last day in June, when eggs, flour and the like would be brought in and a mass riot would ensue against the lower "lifeforms".....ahh those where the days

Change is always a good thing in the education system. Its good to know education, unlike religion is changing with the times.