THE BRITISH EDUCATION SYSTEMAn Overview

So British! “Public Schools” in GB are not public but

privately owned and run Children of the upper class are educated

in Public Schools Most schools in England require children

to wear a school uniform.

Why uniforms?

A sense of pride and discipline Creates identity for a school Everyone is equal. No expensive clothes for children Stop worrying about what to wear each

day

Purpose of Education Teach basics – reading, writing, math Socialize: children taught rules and

values needed to become good citizens State heavily involved –when, where,

how and what children taught

Controversial questions in education• What sort of English should students learn?• Should students be forced to speak in a

standardized way rather than regional accents Other controversial questions: Educational policy can determine if class

inequality can be erased or continued Continued debate over how “EQUAL” educational

opportunity should be Opportunities very different between classes

Primary Schools Education compulsory between 5 and 16 before the age of 3, few child minding

facilities Often mothers sacrifice their career Wealthier families pay nannies From the outset children do not enjoy

equal chances

Secondary SchoolsIndependent Schools

Wealthier parents send their children to fee-paying independent schools, where children are put on the road to wealth, success & influence.

Grammar schools: 7 Boarding ( like Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester,…) + 2 day schools

A significant number of influential people in the UK went to this type of grammar school.

Famous Etonians

•Out of 53 Prime Ministers 19 went to Eton•Only 10 had « normal » secondary education

Secondary SchoolsState Schools Brightest students get a grant to go to

Grammar Schools. Others go to Comprehensive Schools until

16 Schools ran by Local Education Authorities There are 152 LEA in England Since the 1988 Education Act, schools can

opt out and thus become autonomous in budget.

LEA Responsibilities distribution and monitoring of funding Admission and allocation of places at

each school direct employers of all staff educational achievement of children attendance and advisory rights in

employment of teachers owners of school land and premises in

community schools

Problems with the system Schools opting out can resort to whatever

measure to decrease costs (Lowering maintenance costs, larger classes, underpaid and overworked teachers…)

Inner city schools: concentration of the least privileged population -> 40% of pupils hardly speak English -> greater risk of failure -> more dropouts.  

National Curriculum, but ystem promotes regional differences and disparities, (regional accents)

Higher Education As with secondary education, most

universities in the UK are dominated by top universities: Oxford and Cambridge.

Role of Oxbridge in perpetuating the Establishment

The most influential people in the UK tend to graduate from these universities.

Their history and reputation tends to attract the smartest scholars

Famous Oxonians HM King Abdullah II of Jordan

Famous Oxonians Hugh Grant, Actor

Famous Exonians

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, former President and Prime Minister of Pakistan

Famous Exonians

Bill Clinton, Former President of the USA

Famous Exonians

Margareth Thatcher, Former Prime Minister UK

Out of 53 Prime Ministers 26 graduated from Oxford and 14 from Cambridge

University Prestige of Humanities: Studying

“useless” subjects is a sign of class The system can contribute to enhance

social differences. With public schools, Oxford and

Cambridge are the places where many of the decision makers are produced

University Funding

Education is funded by government grants.

Pupils apply directly to university or college

When accepted, they apply for a maintenance grant

Maintenance grants cover living expenses and their tuition fees.

Rising cost of higher education

Tuition fees Consecutive reforms to rise tuition fees 1996: 1,000 £ 2015:9,000£ Rising student debt Threat to diversity

Protests in London Nov. 5, 2015

Education and Social Classes Education system in Britain

decentralized It is oriented towards the perpetuation of

the existing social order Prevents the disappearance of the most

useful means of social discrimination: The accent.

 

Social Mobility and education Margaret Thatcher. Discovered Power at Oxford, but once Prime Minister, forced universities

to turn towards private funding As Education Minister, known as the milk

snatcher As Prime Minister, took elocution lessons so

that her accent would not betray her humble origins.

… Learning is not a right or a duty but a

privilege that has to be bought with hard cash, because learning can mean power

The state will do the minimum to provide education for those who cannot afford to pay for it.

No matter how high one rises in society thanks to education, one will never leave behind one’s class.