英语国家社会与文化入门考试复习资料

Chapter 7 British Education System 英国的教育体制

This Chapter is about British education system and some of British values on education.

Before we start, I would like to ask you several questions concerning their education system

to see how much you know about it.

1. Which are the two most important and famous universities in Britain?

2. Which government department is particularly in charge of education in the U.K.?

3. Is the British education system run by the state or the private sector?

4. At what age are children legally obliged to attend school?

5. Where do British universities receive their funds besides students tuition?

Have you got all the answers right. Congratulations if you have. But it doesn't matter if you

haven't. You will learn more about the British educational system in this chapter. Let's start by

looking at the focal points.

INTRODUCTION

I.the purpose of the British education system

In Britain, the purposes of education are not only to provide children with literacy and the

other basic skills they will need to become active members of society---―the three R’s‖

(―reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic‖) but also to socilise children, teaching them rules and

values needed to become good citizens, to participate in the community, and to contribute to

the economic prosperity of an advanced industrial economy. Student’s Talk with Their Teacher

Ⅱ.controversies about British education system

-----corporal punishment（体罚） is currently banned

----- standard English or regional English with accents and idioms ; local variations VS the

richness of British culture; Class inequality and educational policy ;

Ⅲ.The relationship between education and social class

i. --- class inequality can be erased or continued according to educational policy（教

育政策可以铲除地位的不平等，也可以使这种不平等继续存在。这说明在英国，

是否受到良好教育直接影响到你的社会地位）the accent one speaks with, the

clothes one wears, the school one attends are all markers that identify your social

class.

ii. --- the enduring debate over how equal educational opportunity should be. 51% of

the population working class; 49% middle class.

iii. ---the school tie is a clear marker of social class, the famous boys’ public school

(私立中学)伊顿公学，位于伦敦以西位于英格兰南部）Eton is situated to the west of London. Winchester College is in

Southern England. Both of these public schools are for aristocratic familie the

―right‖ universities: Oxford and Cambridge (nicknamed: Oxbridge)

ⅳ. --- in Britain, where you are educated is still very important to your future. ―the old boys

network‖ refer to the elite groups of men who went to public schools like Eton and

Winchester; and universities like Oxford and Cambridge. They dominate government ,

and are influential in banking, the media, the arts and education.

*Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest universities in the U.K., established

in 12th and 13th century. They are also two of the most prestigious

universities in Britain and in the world. Most of politicians and government

executives in the U.K. graduated from them.

HISTORY

Ⅳ.Historical background of the development and reformation

1. the influence of the church on schooling:

---Historically, education was voluntary and many of the schools that existed

were set up by churches.

---The influence of the Church on schooling is still strong: religious education was the only

subject which the state insisted all schools teach their pupils. Daily prayers and singing

hymns is still a regular part of school life.