School and education

Although the United States and Great Britain speak almost the same language and promote similar values, there are some differences between their education systems. What are schools like in the US and the UK and how do they compare to Czech schooling?

In the US, little children start their education with kindergarten between the ages of 5 and 6. Some children can attend a pre-school education before the kindergarten, but parents have to pay it. The compulsory education in the US begins with elementary/grade school and it covers five grades/years. Usually essential subjects there are English, math and a bit of science. Public schools are free but they have a choice of private schools, which they must pay for. Students are graded on a system of A-F (E is missing). In the sixth grade students go to Junior High school (middle) and in the ninth grade they change to high school, which includes 4 grades. It lasts until 18, but some states allow 16 years old students to leave. When students are in the 3th grade, they take the SAT test (Scholastic Aptitude Test). The score of the test determines whether you succeed when applying to the university of your choice. On the unis the Bachelor’s degree lasts 4 years or longer and the Master’s one takes 2 years and after this students can go on for a PhD or doctorate.

British children begin their schooling at the age of 3 and 4 and are sent to nursery school or a playgroup. At the age of 5 they start attending primary school, which can be either state-funded or private. Primary school is divided in infant school – basics (writing, reading, maths). At 7 they go on to junior school, with more complex subjects like history, geography and science. The transfer to secondary school takes place at the age of 11. They learn foreign language and a broader range of subjects. They take GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education). At the age of 16, pupils are free to leave school. If they want to carry on, they study for 2 more years in a sixth form college. They take A-Level (Advanced GCSEs) in 3 subjects. Pupils are marked by letters from A-E. If pupils after GCSEs don’t want an academic education, they can choose a vocational one – apprenticeships, where young people learn a trade as they work. After the age of 18, most pupils find jobs or go to university. Universities in the UK offer bachelor’s degrees for either three or four years and after this a master’s degree. Students mostly have to pay tuition fees for universities.

The Czech education system operates on three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary. At the age of 3 or 4 children can attend a nursery and at the age of 6 they have to enter nine-year elementary school. Most schools are financed by the state. By law, the school-leaving age is 15. Pupils can go on with their education on secondary school (grammar schools), which lasts for 4 years. In the last year they take a final school-leaving exam in 4 subjects. Apart from grammar schools, students may attend secondary business schools or agriculture schools. For talented there are conservatories where they can study music, acting or dancing. Another option is secondary vocational schools, which train young people for jobs like baker, mechanics, waiters etc. In order to study at university, students have to pass entrance exams in most of the universities. Tertiary education is free of charge. The bachelor’s degree takes 3 years and the master’s one 5 years (or 2 after the bachelor’s), which finish with a final state exam and a thesis defence.

Structure:

• Opening
• the US – pre-school, kindergarten, elementary school, Junior High school, high school, SAT

                tests, universities, degrees, fees, when compulsory

• the UK – nursery school/playgroup, primary school – infant, junior, secondary school – GSCEs,

sixth form college – A-level, apprenticeships, university, degrees, fees, compulsory

• the Czech republic – nursery, primary school, secondary/grammar schools – Maturita,

secondary business schools, conservatories, vocational schools,

universities, degrees, fees, when compulsory