This is a guest article written by Peter Merrick, a Falmouth Student in Cornwall. Peter is my first guest author, and I really appreciate his contribution. Do you live outside of the United States? If so, I’d love to hear about the way your country does education. Reach me through the contact form above.
The Education system in the UK is vastly different from USA. The school leaving age is just 16, and there is no prom or a graduation ceremony. People just leave school at 16.
The education system is divided into the systems that operate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and that of the system in Scotland.
Most people in the countries go to state schools. About 10% of the children go to Independent schools which are outside state control. They are generally private schools run by charities or religious institutions. State Schools follow a National Curriculum which is assessed by the Government. All school children have to study English, Maths, basic Science, and in Wales, Welsh.
They then have the option of taking a variety of different subjects like Geography or History or a foreign language. It is compulsory to take sports until you are 16. All children take Religious Education where they learn about different religions and the ways that different religions respond to varying moral issues. All children in state schools have to wear school uniform, the colour and shape of which changes from school to school.
Popular Sports in the UK are Soccer, Rugby, Badminton, Hockey and Netball. Girls mainly play at Hockey and Netball whereas Boys mainly play at Football and Rugby. In some games, boys and girls play against each other, and the results are always varied!
When children reach sixteen in the UK they have to undergo a series of exams called GCSE’s in their subjects. They leave school in May where they firstly have a Leaving Ball which is where the children go to a nearby hotel. It is to a degree similar to the prom but nowhere near as fashionable or well regarded. After that, school children take their exams in June. They then leave compulsory education. About 90% of 16 year olds then go on to study at Further Education College, whereas the remaining 10% either work or have children young.
Home schooling is rare, but not unheard of.
Peter can be reached at kounou_2000 (at) yahoo.co.uk.
