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recent years there have been many changes in it. Now the
Educational Reform Act has led to a compulsory National
Curriculum for pupils aged 5 to 16 in state schools. It consists of
English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography and some other
subjects. The Act also aims to give parents a wide choice of schools
for their children. Non-selective comprehensive education is
available for children of all abilities, though 7% of children attend
private fee-paying schools, called public schools. The well-known
ones are Eton and Harrow. The education system in the UK is
divided into four main parts: primary education, secondary
education, further education and higher education. Children in the
UK have to attend primary and secondary education which runs
from about 5 years old till a student is 16. School starts in September
and finishes in late July. There are 3 terms, a two-week break
between terms and 6 weeks summer holidays. The most important
examination is the assessment at the age of 16 which is called GCSE
or General Certificate of Secondary Education. Once students get
their GCSEs, they have the choice whether to go to further education
or go into the working world. Pupils can continue studying for two
more years, concentrating on three main subjects, and then at 18 they
take the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level exams.
There is also a Certificate of Pre-Vocational Education, for those
staying at school from 16 till 17. Further education (FE) is the term
used to describe education and training that take place after the
school-leaving age of sixteen. FE takes place in colleges, of which
there are over 600 spread across the UK. These colleges provide
education and training services for the whole of the community that
they are part of. They will also run courses for people who are in
work and wish to continue their training. Students who are admitted
to English universities take part in ‘undergraduate studies’ which
leads to a bachelor’s degree in a main field of study. The most
common degrees are Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science
(BSc), although there are others. As for PhD or Doctor of
Philosophy, it is the highest degree awarded to a person who has
completed at least three years of graduate study and a dissertation
approved by a board of professors. There exist also sandwich
courses which offer students work places for a short period of time
in a relevant industry before completing their studies. Taking a
sandwich course may make the degree last a year longer than
otherwise. Graduate study, conducted after obtaining an initial
degree, leads to a more advanced Master’s degree. The Oxbridge
universities (Oxford University and Cambridge University), which
are amongst the world's oldest universities, are generally ranked at
or near the top of all UK universities. These universities denote an
elite education. They consist of a number of colleges, each self-
governing and independent.
