Тема: School life. Schools in Great Britain.

 1. Proverbs about education.

1. If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.

2. Whatever is good to know is difficult to learn.  

3. Instruction ends in the school-room, but education ends only with life.

4. The way to be nothing is to do nothing.

5. Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep tour mind young.

6. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.

7. Education is a gift that none can take away.

8. The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.
9. Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.

10. Education should be exercise; it has become massage.

 

2. Match the parts of the proverbs

1. The way to be nothing is	a) it has become massage.
2. The beautiful thing about learning is that	b) it passes from one generation to another.
3. Education should be exercise;	c) is difficult to learn.
4. If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees;	d) to do nothing.
5. Whatever is good to know	e) Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep tour mind young.
6. Education is	f) that is the goal of true education.
7. Education is simply the soul of a society as	g) a gift that none can take away.
8. Intelligence plus character –	h) no one can take it away from you.
9. Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.	i) but education ends only with life.
10. Instruction ends in the school-room,	j) if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.

3.Complete the sentences.
School is

1. an attractive place.

2. doing well in most subjects.

3. giving knowledge.

4. a warm atmosphere for students.

5. a high standard of education.

6. our second home.

7. a creative way.

8. full of different events (meetings, conferences, competitions, evening parties).

9. keeping good traditions.

10. full of noisy children.

11. fundamentals of knowledge in different subjects.

12. well equipped classrooms.

13. meetings with classmates.

 

4. The best things about  school.

School

1. learns to behave according to the situation and to cope with difficulties.

2. learns to achieve success.

3. forms attitude to school subjects.

4. gives deep knowledge in different subjects.

5. tries to correct a student’s action.

6. is a path for students to go through a dark forest of school rules.

7. helps us with our education and relationships among our classmates.

8. helps to overcome our difficulties and problems.

9. develops the student’s ability to work.

10. creates a supportive and caring atmosphere for students.

 

5. Rules for pupils

1. Pupils should love their school and respect each person in it.

2. Pupils mustn’t be late for school.

3. Pupils should listen attentively to the teacher.

4. Pupils should work hard at the lessons.

5. Homework must be done on time.

6. Pupils shouldn’t draw or write on the desks.

7. Pupils mustn’t use phones and send messages at the lessons.

8. Pupils mustn’t fight at school.

9. Pupils mustn’t lean out of the windows, hang or throw anything from the windows.

10. Pupils mustn’t drop litter in school and around it.

11. Pupils should respect and care for school buildings, school property and the property of others. 

12. Pupils should behave in a manner that keeps others safe, both in and out of school. 

13.  Pupils must wear a school uniform.

14. When in school, pupils must not make a loud noise.

15. They mustn't bully other people.

16. They mustn't use dirty language.

                                             Schools in Britain

     Children in Britain start school when they are five and stay at school until they are sixteen or older.

      Many children in Britain attend nursery school from the age of about three, but these schools are not compulsory. Compulsory education begins at the age of five, when children go to primary school. Primary education lasts for six years. They attend the infant school from five to seven and then junior school until they are eleven. Then pupils go to secondary school.

     Children study 10 subjects: English, mathematics, science, geography, history, art, music, physical education and a foreign language. Most secondary schools teach French and some schools offer Spanish, German, Italian and Russian. The first three are called “core” subjects. Pupils take examinations in the core subjects at the age of 7, 11 and 14.

      After five years of secondary education, pupils take the general certificate of secondary Education (GCSE) examination. Most pupils take examinations in all subjects.

      Compulsory education ends at sixteen. Some people choose to stay at secondary school for a further two years. Other people leave secondary school at sixteen and go to colleges of further education.

      Higher education begins at eighteen and usually lasts for three or four years. Students go to universities, polytechnics or colleges of higher education. There are now about 80 universities.

      Some parents choose to send their children to private schools where they pay for their education.

      State education is free. More than 90 % of Britain’s children attend state schools.

 

                                        

Complete the sentences according to the text.

1. Children study 10 subjects:

2. Most secondary schools teach …

3. Pupils take examinations …

4. After five years of secondary education, pupils …

5. Compulsory education ends …

6. Some people choose …

7. Higher education begins at …

8. Students go to …

 Primary schools in England

         In Great Britain school begins at the age of five. Many boys and girls usually leave school at the age of sixteen.

         In England the school year begins in September, but not always on the first day of the month, as school never begins on Monday. The English think that Monday is not a good day to start school. So pupils usually begin their school year on the first Tuesday of September (not always on the 1-st of September as we do).

        Classes usually begin at nine. Pupils have a glass of milk or a glass of orange juice at eleven. At half past twelve or at one o’clock they usually have lunch – meat, pudding, juice, an apple or a cake. Their classes are not formal. They often sit on the carpet on the floor and listen to their teacher. They draw or play games. They often look at the animals they have at school – hamsters, rabbits or hares. Sometimes there are birds or fish in their classrooms.

        English children have classes five days a week. They have classes on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Classes are usually over at four o’clock and then the pupils go home. They never have classes on Saturday and Sunday. Saturdays and Sundays are their days off.

Answer the questions.       

1. When does the school year begin England? (In England the school year begins in September, but not always on the first day of the month, as school never begins on Monday).

2. What time do the classes begin? (Classes usually begin at nine)

3. What do pupils have for lunch? (They have meat, pudding, juice, an apple or a cake)

4. What activities do pupils do at the lessons? (They draw or play games. They often look at the animals they have at school – hamsters, rabbits or hares)

5. When are classes over? (Classes are usually over at four o’clock)

6. Do the pupils have classes on Saturday and Sunday? (No, they don’t)

Schools in England have names, not numbers. They often get the names after the place where they are (Green Hill School, Cedar Grove School) or after some famous or important people (St. Mary School).

        In infant schools children spend much time outdoors.

        They play different games, run and jump. They sing songs, dance and play a lot. Infant pupils learn how to use money in their classroom shop. They look at the pictures, draw pictures and colour them. They learn how to get on with other children.

        Junior schools are real schools. The atmosphere is more formal in junior classes than in infant classes. Pupils sit in rows and follow a regular timetable. Their subjects are: English, Maths, History, Nature Study, Geography, Art, and Music. In junior schools swimming, P.E. and Religion are on the timetable too.

        But children spend a lot of time outdoors. They visit different museums and other famous and interesting places. Sometimes their teachers take them to London and other big cities. They walk and play a lot. In some primary schools children wear uniforms but in many primary schools they don’t.

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1. What activities do children do in infant schools?

(They play different games, run and jump. They sing songs, dance and play a lot. Infant pupils learn how to use money in their classroom shop. They look at the pictures, draw pictures and colour them. They learn how to get on with other children).

2. What subjects are taught in junior schools?  (They are English, Maths, History, Nature Study, Geography, Art, and Music. In junior schools swimming, P.E. and Religion are on the timetable too)

3. How do children spend their time outdoors? (They visit different museums and other famous and interesting places. Sometimes their teachers take them to London and other big cities. They walk and play a lot.)

 

 Private Schools in the United Kingdom

       Private education. What is it?

        The school system in the UK can proudly call itself one of the most complicated in Europe. A number of changes that have taken place in the last 50 years have made it equally confusing for a British person and for a foreigner.

       Let’s start from the beginning. There are two types of schools in the UK: state schools where education is free and private schools where you have to pay.

      The only thing is that private schools in Britain are called public. Why?

      A long time ago when education was a privilege of the rich, the only schools where poor people could go were funded by charities (organizations that collect money for people in need).

      As it was public money, the schools for the poor were called public schools. Logical, isn’t it?

      However, in the course of history many public schools became very successful and turned into expensive private schools but the conservative British continued to call them public schools.

      How does it work?

      Until very recently public schools were either all – boys or all – girls.

      Public schools can be full boarding (pupils live there all academic year except for holidays), normal (pupils go home every day) and mixed (some pupils go home every weekend and some stay).

     Who can attend a public school?

     Well, the first thing you need to have is money as some public schools charge up to 20,000 pounds a year.

     There are some grants for bright pupils as well but the places are few and the competition is very strong.

     Therefore, it comes as no surprise that only six per cent can afford it. The other important criterion is that you have to belong to the right class as the class system in Britain is very important.

     Mostly, public education is a privilege of the upper middle and upper classes.

      Some public schools in Britain, such as Eton, have uniforms based on what was worn over a hundred years ago.
    Some private schools are very famous such as Eton, Harrow, Rugby and Winchester.
Harrow school is famous as the place where Winston Churchill was educated, as well as six other Prime Ministers of Great Britain, the poet Lord Byron and many other prominent people.

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1. Match:

1. the school system           a) the rich

2. expensive                        b) for people in need

3. a privilege of                  c) pupils

4. to be funded by               d) in the UK

5. to collect money             e) criterion

6. to charge up to                f) upper classes

7. upper middle and            g) the right class

8. bright                              h) private schools

9. an important                   i) 20,000 pounds a year

10. to belong to                   j) charities

2. Choose the correct variant:

1. Private schools appeared in the United Kingdom … .

a) 10 years ago    b) 50 years ago     c) 100 years ago

2. Pupils from … could study in private schools at first.

a) rich classes     b) upper classes    c) poor families

3. Public schools can be … .

a) full boarding    b) full boarding, normal and mixed

4. Some public schools charge up to … .

a) 10.000 pounds a year       b) 20.000 pounds a year       c) 5.000 pounds a year

5. Only … % of people in the United Kingdom can get education at private schools.

a) 50    b) 90    c) 6

6. Public education is a privilege of  the … .

a) poor people    b) upper middle and upper classes       c) middle classes