History

- Schools and other educational institutions has existed in Britain a long

time ago but British education had little importance and was not paid
significant attention by the its government until the end of the 19th century.
- Although at the end of 19th century it was world leading in industry and
commerce, Britain was one of the last countries in Europe to organize education
for everyone.
- When the government started organizing the country’s education, they
sometimes incorporated the formerly existed institutions into the overall
systems and sometimes left those alone, especially the small group of schools
for the upper and upper – middle classed children.
- As a result of those changing in school-related policies, the new public
school system was formed, aimed to prepare young men to take up positions in
the higher ranks of the army, in business, the legal profession, the civil service,
the church, and politics. This kind of system brought difficulties to anyone who
had different education.
- In the 20th century, education and its possibilities for social advancement
came within everybody's reach and new schools were established as the copy
versions of the successful public schools.
- About the British stereotypical public school system:

Features Back in the past These days

Gender Single sex, for boys only Mixed sex
Girls’ public schools have
appeared for the last hundred
years
Are boarding Stereotypical yes Some schools
school
Divided into Stereotypical yes Some schools
‘houses’ to
manage
Senior pupils Stereotypical yes Abolished
have authority
Enforce rules Stereotypical yes Abolished
by physical
punishment
Emphasis on Stereotypical yes Less and more on academic
team sports achievement
Luxurious or Stereotypical not at all More comfortable than before
comfortable
Exam
- Public exams are organized neither by schools nor by the government but set
and marked by largely independent examining boards.
- Each examining boards publishes its own separate syllabus for each different
subject.
- Involve knowledge and skills specified by the national curriculum.
- Are in principle separate from the school systems.
- Nearly all pupils do exams in English language.
- The assessment ò each examinee’s performance in each subject is usually a
combination of coursework assignments and formal, sit-down exams.
- After the age of 16
- If pupils remain in education, they can go to a sixth-form college, or College of
Further Education. Typically they spends 2 years studying in preparation for
taking A-level exams.