THE BRITISH EDUCATION SYSTEMAn Overview

So British! “Public Schools” in GB are not public but

privately owned and run (upper class children are educated in Public Schools)

While education is compulsory until 18, schooling is only compulsory to 16

MMost schools in England require children to wear a school uniform.

Why uniforms?

A sense of pride and discipline Creates identity for a school Everyone is equal. No expensive clothes for children Stop worrying about what to wear each

day

Purpose of Education

Teach basics – reading, writing, math National tests at ages 7 and 11 in English,

Maths and Science.  Socialize: children taught rules and

values needed to become good citizens

State heavily involved –when, where, how and what children taught

GCSE Exams mark the end of compulsory schooling. 

Education organization Primary & secondary

Stages of Education: Primary education age (5-11) Secondary Education (11-16-18) Higher Education (18+)

Education overseen by the United Kingdom's Department for Education

Local government authorities are responsible for implementing policy for public education and state schools at a local level.

Secondary SchoolsState Schools

Brightest students get a grant to go to Grammar Schools.

Others go to Comprehensive Schools until 16

Schools ran by Local Education Authorities

Since the 1988 Education Act, schools can opt out and thus become autonomous in budget.

Problems with the state system

Problems with the state system

Schools opting out can resort to whatever measure to decrease costs (Lowering maintenance costs, larger classes, underpaid and overworked teachers…)

Inner city schools: concentration of the least privileged population -> 40% of pupils hardly speak English -> greater risk of failure -> more dropouts.  

National Curriculum, but System promotes regional differences and disparities, (regional accents)

Secondary SchoolsIndependent Schools

Wealthier parents send their children to fee-paying independent schools, where children are put on the road to wealth, success & influence.

Grammar schools: 7 Boarding ( like Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester,…) + 2 day schools

A significant number of influential people in the UK went to this type of grammar school.

Famous Etonians

• Out of 53 Prime Ministers 19 went to Eton

• Only 10 had « normal » secondary education

Higher Education As with secondary education, most

universities in the UK are dominated by top universities: Oxford and Cambridge.

Role of Oxbridge in perpetuating the Establishment

The most influential people in the UK tend to graduate from these universities.

Their history and reputation tends to attract the smartest scholars

Famous Oxonians HM King Abdullah II of Jordan

Famous Oxonians Hugh Grant, Actor

Famous Oxonians

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, former President and Prime Minister of Pakistan

Famous Oxonians

Bill Clinton, Former President of the USA

Famous Oxonians

Margareth Thatcher, Former Prime Minister UK

Out of 53 Prime Ministers 26 graduated from Oxford and 14 from Cambridge

University

Prestige of Humanities: Studying “useless” subjects is a sign of class

The system can contribute to enhance social differences.

With public schools, Oxford and Cambridge are the places where many of the decision makers are produced

University Funding

Education is funded by government grants.

Pupils apply directly to university or college

When accepted, they apply for a maintenance grant

Maintenance grants cover living expenses and their tuition fees.

Rising cost of higher education

Tuition fees Consecutive reforms to rise tuition

fees 1996: 1,000 £ 2015:9,000£ Rising student debt Threat to diversity

Protests in London Nov. 5, 2015

Nov2016

measures to rank universities according to graduate

employment rates and

student satisfaction,

Education and Social Classes Education system in Britain

decentralized It is oriented towards the

perpetuation of the existing social order

Prevents the disappearance of the most useful means of social discrimination:

The accent. 

Social Mobility and education Margaret Thatcher. Discovered Power at Oxford, but once Prime Minister, forced

universities to turn towards private funding

As Education Minister, known as the milk snatcher

As Prime Minister, took elocution lessons so that her accent would not betray her humble origins.

Unequal chances before the age of 3, few child

minding facilities Often mothers sacrifice their career Wealthier families pay nannies From the outset children do not

enjoy equal chances

Controversial questions in education• What sort of English should students

learn?• Should students be forced to speak

in a standardized way rather than regional accents

Other controversial questions: Educational policy can determine if

class inequality can be erased or continued

The poorest would have less chances of accessing higher education and Oxbridge