1、Education is a vital concern throughout Britain because a highly developed nation depends upon educated professionals and a skilled workforce .According to the statistics, the literacy rate in Britain is one of the highest in the world at over 99 percent .What is education in Britain really like? To
2、day Ill talk about it.DevelopmentIn 1870,Britains first education act was inspired by the pioneering example of mass compulsory education in Germany. Another major education act, passed in 1902,established local education authorities that were responsible for providing schools and education in their
3、 areas .An education act passed in 1944 established free and compulsory secondary education up to age 15,this was increased to age sixteen in 1973.Then ,an education reform act in 1988 allowed individual schools to control their own affairs and budgets, and to receive grants directly from the govern
4、ment .It also established a controversial national curriculum ,which was simplified in 1994 after complaints about its complexity.Primary EducationFulltime school begins at the age of five in Great Britain and at the age of four in Northern Ireland ,and children are required to be there until 15.In
5、addition, some children are enrolled in nursery school at the age of two or three .And nursery education is considered as one of the happiest and most enlightened features of English education .Then ,most start at 5 in an infant school which is coeducational .The school year usually begins in 9,and
6、it divided into three terms ,with holidays at Christmas, Easters ,and in the summer .After two years in the infant school the child enters the junior school. Secondary educationThere are two systems for secondary schooling ,the selective and the comprehensive .There are often demands for more attent
7、ion to be paid to the three Rs(reading ,writing and arithmetic) in this kind of schools. Under the former system ,children take an examination ,called the eleven plus .Those with high marks can go to grammar schools, most of which have been replaced by comprehensive schools catering to students of a
8、ll academic abilities. These schools expect most of their pupils to take higher examinations and continue to university at 18.On the other hand, children may go to technical schools at 16,where the teaching is more practical. But the majority go to secondary modern schools which provide vocational e
9、ducation rather preparation for university entrance.And you may go to comprehensive schools at 11.These schools distribute widely throughout Britain. At 15 or 16 you can take either the ordinary level of the General Certificate of Education or the Certificate of secondary Education. If you want to s
10、tay at school after this ,you have to take the Advanced level of the G.C.E. at 18.My own viewChina and Britain are two countries that have completely different backgrounds of a culture. A long history can not show the education system is perfect or not. In my view, the educational system of Britain
11、is more advanced. As a traditional western country, British education pays great attention to develop the students personality and improve their practice ability. Teachers and students are like two barrels of water, through the communication will make two barrels of water becomes one. At present, Ch
12、inas education is to let the students according to the will of the teachers. Just like a barrel of water and the glass of water. An excellent also obedient guy is a good student. Although we try to reform the education system all the time, however, this model of the exam-oriented education is unchan
13、ged; the concept will not be updated.SummaryThe education system in Britain ,when they change one idea to another ,they dont get rid of the old idea ,they keep the old idea as well as the new one .So over the time ,their education has become more and more complicate and advanced .In the future, I hope I can go to Britain to enjoy their education.
