U.65. The educational system in the English-speaking world.

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.1. Stages in compulsory education. 2.1.1. Early years and pre-school education

• These include:

  • Nursery school

  • Nursery classes in schools

  • Private and voluntary nurseries

  • Childminders

  • Playgroups and activities to support development

• Institutions must comply with EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and its requirements in tenets such as learning, development, and care from birth to the age of 5.

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.1. Stages in compulsory education. 2.1.2. Primary education

• Starts with Reception (4-5 y/o)

• Followed by Key Stage (KS) 1 (5-7) which includes Year 1 and Year 2

• And KS2 (7-11) which includes Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, and Year 6

Afterwards..

• Grammar schools (still exist in some parts of England) and require the 11+ test to access.

• Non-selective secondary schools and independent preparatory schools are the popular option as they help students prepare for the Common Entrance examination.

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.1. Stages in compulsory education. 2.1.3. Secondary education.

• Composed by:

  • KS3 (11-14) → Years 7, 8, 9

  • KS4 (14-16) → Years 10, 11

• Afterwards:

  • GCSEs or other certificates and then A-levels (3 subjects, 2 years) and T-levels:

  • A-Levels: theory and essay, no work experience required, grading: A* to E

  • T-Levels: hands-on practice, 45 day minimum placement, grading: Pass, Merit, Distinction, Distinction*

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.1. Stages in compulsory education. 2.1.4. University and higher education.

• Application → UCAS, students select up to 5 choices during the academic year before intending to begin the course

• What universities consider:

  • Qualifications

  • Predicted/achieved grades

  • Some: personal statements, references, interviews, essays…

• Students receive:

  • Conditional acceptance → you need to have x requirements or take x exams to enter

  • Unconditional acceptance → place 100% guaranteed because you meet the criteria

• Degree (bachelor term length) → 3 years, and can be a BA, BSc, BEng, BEd, LLB

• Postgraduate → Phd or Master’s Degree. Oxford and Cambridge offer special collegiate systems that include highly personalised teaching styles (tutorials, supervisions), though acceptance is highly competitive at 14-21%

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.1. Stages in compulsory education. 2.1.4. University and higher education. What happened to polythecnics?

They became universities, so there is no longer a Polythecnic Colleges Admission System (PCAS)

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.2. State-funded and independent schools. 2.2.1. State-funded.

• Majority of students attend these.

• Include:

  • Maintained schools (by local government)

  • Academies and free schools

• Historically:

  • Grammar schools (selected pupils based on ability)

  • Secondary Modern schools

• Today:

  • Comprehensive schools (no admission test required)

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.2. State-funded and independent schools. 2.2.2. Independent

• Privately funded (i.e. charge tuition+fees)

• Independent to local authorities

• Some are called PUBLIC SCHOOLS, which is misleading cause you pay tuitions and access is difficult if you’re not rich, historical institutions (like Eton, Harrow, or Winchester)

• Some others are boarding schools

**Those who want to attend these schools but don’t have the economic means to do so, may do it through scholarships (sports, music, arts, etc)

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.3. Standards: National Curriculm

• Est. 1988, revised, and establishes framework of subjects and content, also establishes the 4 Key Stages.

• For each KS, there is a programme of study that describes the knowledge + skills and standards of attainment

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.3. Standards: National Curriculum. 2.3.1 Subjects

• Typical subjects include: English, Maths, Science, Arts and Design, Computing, Technology, Geography, History, Music, Physical Education, and religious education (subject to locally agreed syllabus and school type)

• KS3 → also has an extra subject called Citizenship

• KS4 → subjects lead to GCSEs, students learn at least 1 foreign language

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.4. Examination

• Before KS and KS1 → Common Entrance and Year 1 Phonics Screening Test

• SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) → taken in Year 2 and Year 6, every year in May. *SATs were also present in KS3 but discontinued.

• GCSEs → taken at 15/16 years of age in England, Wales, and N.I.

  • Core subjects → Maths, English, Science (combined or separate)

  • Optional subjects → Art, history, geography, languages

  • Grading system (England: 1-9 (4= pass)); (Wales, N.I.: A*-G (C=pass)

• A-Levels:

  • Assessment mainly written. At the end of each subject.

  • Graded from A* down to E

  • Not essential for uni entrance, but valued.

  • Repeating a school year is relatively uncommon and only in exceptional cases.

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.5. Quality assurance (education)

• Debated nationwide, many factors, difficult to fully grasp

• Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) → non-ministerial department. It is responsible for conducting examinations and inspecting quality of education

2. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 2.6. Teacher education system

• Most teachers are required to obtain QTS (Qualified Teacher Status): Several routes:

  • Postgraduate in teaching training + QTS+ PGCE

  • Undergraduate, through degree programmes +QTS

• After obtaining QTS, you can teach:

  • Unis

  • Schools

  • School-centred training providers

  • Others

• Those already qualified may continue developing themselves through CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

3. EDUCATION IN THE US. 3.1. School education (introduction)

• Governed by:

  • Individual states

  • Federal gvt influences education through legislation, funding, civil rights requirements and federal programmes.

• Age at which children enter school:

  • Varies (state)

  • Kindergarten around 6 years old, and compulsory education is between 5-7

3. EDUCATION IN THE US. 3.1. School education. 3.1.1. Elementary school and Middle School/Junior High

ELEMENTARY: K-5 grade (5-10 y/o) → MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH: Grade 6-8 (11-13)

3. EDUCATION IN THE US. 3.1. School education. 3.1.2. Secondary school. Coverage and graduation.

• 4 years of high school cover years 9-12.:

  • Freshman: 9

  • Sophomore: 10

  • Junior: 11

  • Senior: 12

• Those graduating receive their high school diploma → eligible to apply to post-secondary education and higher education

3. EDUCATION IN THE US. 3.1. School education. 3.1.2. Secondary school. Subjects and extra offers.

• Subjects:

  • English

  • Maths

  • Science

  • Social studies

  • + Electives

• Extra offers:

  • APs (Advanced Placement) → courses administered by the College Board that offer college-level material. May receive college credit for taking them.

  • International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme → Normally studied during the final 2 years of secondary education (ages 16/19). Recognised by many international institutions

3. EDUCATION IN THE US. 3.2. Examinations

• For admissions to college, some institutions consider SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) and ACT (American College Testing. However, this is not broadly required.

• Colleges focus more on:

  • GPA (Grade Point Average)

  • Course selection

  • Grades

  • Recommendations or essays

• GPA: (Class credit hours x grade points) / total credits.

  • Scores on a scale of 4.0.; 4.0= A, 3.0 = B, 2.0 = C, 1.0= D, 0= F

3. EDUCATION IN THE US. 3.3. Higher education

• Stage 1:

  • Associate Degree (2 years) → Bachelor Degree (4 years), coursing a major and a minor (specialisation). UNI WORKS ON A CREDIT SYSTEM.

• Stage 2:

  • Master’s Degree (1-2 years)

• Stage 3:

  • Professor of Philosophy (PhD)

*Scholarships if applicable.

3. EDUCATION IN THE US. 3.4. Teacher education

• 3.4.1. Pre-primary and primary school:

  • Requirement = BD + state licensure

  • Teacher preparation includes classroom experience, academic study, and professional education

  • To pass: conduct state-specific examinations and other assessments if required

• 3.4.2. Secondary school:

  • BD+ Teacher preparation + State requirements for certification

  • Specialise in subject

  • Master’s Degree is highly encouraged

• 3.4.3. Higher education:

  • B.D. + MD+ PhD+ portfolio

  • Trained through teacher practice as TA (Teacher Assistant), research and publications, and CV.

4. EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. Introduction

• Who is responsible for national education policy and administration? The Department of Education and Youth.

• It establishes:

  • National policy

  • Funding

  • Regulates education

• NCCA (National Council for Curriculum and Assessments and State Examinations Commission: develop curriculum and conduct public examinations.

4. EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. 4.1. First and second level education

• Catholic schools make up the majority, most popular as well, though non-denominational and other religious institutions do exist.

• These rely on state funding

4. EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. 4.1. First and second level education. 4.1.1. Primary education

• Compulsory education begins at the age of 6 and lasts 8 years: from JUNIOR INFANTS → SIXTH CLASS.

• Primary Curriculum covers:

  • English

  • Irish (Gaelige)

  • Maths

  • Social, Environmental, Scientific Education

  • Arts Education

  • Physical Education

  • Social, Personal and Health Education

  • Religious Education (if applicable=

• Costs: generally free, though parents may cover uniforms and materials.

4. EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. 4.1. First and second level education. 4.1.2. Post-primary education

• Begins at 12 years of age

• Junior cycle (3 years):

  • Leads to JCPA (Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement) → records examination results and assessments

• Transition year (may be taken by students to pursue opportunities in education, personal, or social aspects)

• Senior cycle (2-3 years):

  • Several programmes

  • Most famous: LCVP (Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme) and LCA (Leaving Certificate Applied)

• Main types of post-primary schools:

  • Voluntary secondary schools

  • Community colleges

  • Community schools

4. EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. 4.2. Examinations

• Junior Framework replaces the Junior certificate. (Although state examinations continue to form part of assessment at the end of the Junior cycle)

• End of senior → Leaving Certificate:

  • Principal qualifications used to entry higher education

  • Admission (uni) based on results of these exams + specific entry requirements like portfolios or essays

• Students must apply through the Central Applications Office.

4. EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. 4.3. Universities and higher education

• Institutions (have substantial institutional autonomy, though they operate within a national framework or receive gvt funding)

  • Universities

  • Technological universities

  • Specialist higher education institutions

• Most popular:

  • Trinity College Dublin

  • University of Galway

  • University College Cork

  • RCSI University of Medicine and Health

• Technological universities:

  • Technological University Dublin

  • Technological University of the Shannon

  • Atlantic Technological University

• Programmes for higher institutions lead to:

  • Certificates

  • Higher certificates

  • Bachelor's (with honours or ordinary)

  • Postgraduate diplomas

  • PhD and Master’s.

4. EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. 4.4. Teacher and teaching training.

• Who establishes the requirements? the Teaching Council of Ireland, as teachers working for gvt funded institutions need to be registered

• For teaching you’ll need:

  • An accredited undergraduate

  • Go through initial teacher education programme (4 years)

  • Level 8 DEGREE + 2 years professional Master’s of Education

• During your training, you’ll study:

  • Educational theory, curriculum, teaching methods, supervised experience

  • Must need experience in Irish and other areas

• You want to keep learning after becoming a teacher? → Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

• “ “ To be a high education teacher → Honours bachelor’s (Level 8 + Master’s+ PhD)