Great Britain

Full time education is compulsory for all children between the age of five and sixteen. Most of children attend schools supported by public funds, the rest attend private or church schools or have a private teacher.
Pre-school and primary education is provided by nursery (kindergartens from three to four years) and primary schools. Compulsory education begins at five, when children go to infant schools. At seven many children move to junior schools, where the work is more systematic. At the age of eleven pupils are transferred from primary to secondary schools. Most of state secondary school pupils go to Comprehensive schools. The principal [B1] examination at about sixteen is the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE – O level). Advanced level of this exam is GCE A (level), which gives students possibility to study further and this exam is taken at eighteen.
Higher education covers all post-school courses above GCE A level. Higher education institutions include universities, polytechnics, teacher training colleges and other colleges of art and professions in medicine. The oldest universities are Oxford (1167) and Cambridge in England, St. Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburg in Scotland. Some younger universities founded in 19th and 20th century are in London, Manchester, Sussex and York…Universities courses last usually three to four years. The first degree is Bachelor of art (B.A.) or of science (B.Sc.). Students with this degree can study further to get degree of Master of art (M.A.) or of science (M. Sc.). The degree Doctor of Philosophy is given to people, who contribute to human knowledge.

[B1]hlavní