Education in Great Britain

Education in Great Britain is provided by the Local Education authority in each country.
Children under 5 don't have to go to school, but there is nursery-school education before that
age.
At the age of 5 children go to primary schools,first to infant schools for pupils from 5 to 7 and
then to junior schools for pupils from 8 to 11 years. Some parents choose to pay for private
education though there are free state schools. Private schools are called by different names. The
most popular private boarding schools are Eton, Harrow, Wecombe Abbey.
The preparatory schools are for pupils aged up to 13 and the public schools are for 13 to 18 year-
olds. These schools are very expensive. Over 80% of school children go to comprehensive
schools at the age of 11. These schools are not selective - you don't have to pass an exam to go
there. But all children take an exam at the age of 11 called "11+".
Comprehensive schools develop the talent of each child. So they offer a wide choice of subjects:
from art and craft to woodwork and domestic science to the sciences and modern languages,
computer studies, etc.
At the age of 14 or 15 pupils begin to choose their exam subjects. In 1988 a new public
examination The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) was introduced for 16
year- olds. Many people decide to leave school at the age of 16 and go to Colleges.

Education in Belarus
The first stage of our education system consists of the nursery school and the kindergarten.
Secondary education is provided at general secondary schools or specialized secondary schools.
All our schools whether they are in cities or in villages have the same educational curriculum
and use the same textbooks.
Besides ordinary general secondary schools there is a wide range of specialized schools (music,
art, ballet, sport ) for gifted children. There are schools (or classes) where one of the subjects is
taught (such as mathematics, physics, biology or a foreign language).
All children at the age of six or seven go to school. Schooling is free, universal and compulsory.
Children leave school at the age of 17, so school becomes their second home.
On the 1st of September millions of pupils come back to school after summer holidays to start or
continue studies and to meet classmates and teachers. Traditionally the first day at school is a
holiday - The Day of Knowledge.
I still remember the day I came here for the first time. Everything was so big and so beautiful
and I had a feeling that I would learn something very important but later I realized that study was
a hard work. 
studying at primary school was fun but secondary school brought many surprises. For example
our final exams at the 9th grade. I took them very seriously to heart and maybe that's why I
passed them with flying colours. My school years have taught me how to learn, listen, solve
problems both mathematical and individual.