Schools in the United Kingdom

Which school and when?Which school and when?

3-5 years3-5 years Nursery (optional)Nursery (optional) 5-11years5-11yearsPrimary School Primary School

(compulsory)(compulsory) 11-16 years11-16 years Secondary Secondary

School School (compulsory)(compulsory) 16-18 years16-18 years College/Sixth College/Sixth

Form Form (optional)(optional) 18+ years18+ yearsUniversity University

(optional)(optional)

The School YearThe School Year

The school year starts in The school year starts in September and runs until July.September and runs until July.

Children get 2 weeks holiday at Children get 2 weeks holiday at Christmas, 2 weeks at Easter Christmas, 2 weeks at Easter and 6 weeks over the Summer. and 6 weeks over the Summer.

There are also 3 holidays called There are also 3 holidays called ‘‘half-termhalf-term’’: 1 week in October, 1 : 1 week in October, 1 week in February and 1 week in week in February and 1 week in May.May.

Time for primary school…Time for primary school…

Children have to go to school 5 days Children have to go to school 5 days a week.a week.

The school day begins at 9:00AM.The school day begins at 9:00AM. The day usually finishes at 3:30PM.The day usually finishes at 3:30PM. Children at primary school usually Children at primary school usually

have only one teacher for all of their have only one teacher for all of their classes – primary school teachers in classes – primary school teachers in the UK have to be able to teach all the UK have to be able to teach all subjects, for example Maths, English subjects, for example Maths, English and Science.and Science.

Structure of school dayStructure of school day

9:00am 9:00am RegistrationRegistration9:10am 9:10am AssemblyAssembly9:30am 9:30am Lesson 1Lesson 110:30am 10:30am Lesson 2Lesson 211:30am11:30am BreakBreak11:5011:50 amam Lesson 3Lesson 312:5012:50 pmpm Lunch BreakLunch Break1:30pm1:30pm Lesson 4Lesson 42:30pm2:30pm Lesson 5Lesson 53:30pm3:30pm Home timeHome time

Time for secondary school…Time for secondary school…

Secondary school is also 5 days a Secondary school is also 5 days a week.week.

The day begins at 8:30AM.The day begins at 8:30AM. The day normally ends at 3:30PM.The day normally ends at 3:30PM. Children at secondary school have a Children at secondary school have a

form/tutor group in which they have form/tutor group in which they have registration, and then a different registration, and then a different teacher for each class, for example a teacher for each class, for example a Maths teacher and a History teacher.Maths teacher and a History teacher.

Structure of school dayStructure of school day

8:30am8:30am RegistrationRegistration8:40am8:40am AssemblyAssembly9:00am9:00am Lesson 1Lesson 110:00am10:00am Lesson 2Lesson 211:00am11:00am BreakBreak11:20am11:20am Lesson 3Lesson 312:20pm12:20pm LunchLunch1:20pm1:20pm RegistrationRegistration1:30pm1:30pm Lesson 4Lesson 42:30pm2:30pm Lesson 5Lesson 53:30pm3:30pm Home timeHome time

UniformUniform

In the United Kingdom, all In the United Kingdom, all schools, both primary and schools, both primary and secondary, require a school secondary, require a school uniform.uniform.

This is usually a grey/black skirt This is usually a grey/black skirt or trousers, black shoes, white or trousers, black shoes, white shirt and a jumper of the school shirt and a jumper of the school colours.colours.

My primary school uniformMy primary school uniform

I had to wear:I had to wear: Grey skirtGrey skirt White polo-shirtWhite polo-shirt Blue cardigan with the school Blue cardigan with the school

emblem on the left hand sideemblem on the left hand side Black shoesBlack shoes White socks or black tightsWhite socks or black tights In the Summer, there was a different In the Summer, there was a different

uniform: a cotton, blue and white uniform: a cotton, blue and white checked dress for the girls, and grey checked dress for the girls, and grey shorts for the boysshorts for the boys

My secondary school uniformMy secondary school uniform

I had to wear:I had to wear: Tartan kiltTartan kilt White shirtWhite shirt Blue jumperBlue jumper Black shoesBlack shoes White socks or tightsWhite socks or tights Blue coatBlue coat There was no option for a cooler There was no option for a cooler

summer uniformsummer uniform

My secondary school uniformMy secondary school uniform

We were lucky with our uniform. We were lucky with our uniform. Some schools had to wear a tie Some schools had to wear a tie and also a blazer. Our uniform and also a blazer. Our uniform was much more comfortable.was much more comfortable.

What do you think of the idea of What do you think of the idea of having to wear a uniform?having to wear a uniform?

Different schoolsDifferent schools

It is popular in the United Kingdom It is popular in the United Kingdom for schools to be single-sex: this for schools to be single-sex: this means that boys and girls go to means that boys and girls go to school seperately.school seperately.

I went to a girlsI went to a girls’’ school, and the boy school, and the boyss’’ school was the other side of town. school was the other side of town.

Girls tend to get better grades in Girls tend to get better grades in single-sex schools and this is why single-sex schools and this is why they are still very popular.they are still very popular.

Boarding SchoolBoarding School

Boarding school is when Boarding school is when children go away from home to children go away from home to go to school. They go to school. They ‘‘boardboard’’ there there during the week and then go during the week and then go home at weekends. home at weekends.

Some children stay at school for Some children stay at school for weeks before they return home.weeks before they return home.

Your thoughts…Your thoughts…

Do you think it would be a good idea Do you think it would be a good idea to have a school uniform?to have a school uniform?

Would you like to attend a single-sex Would you like to attend a single-sex school? Why?school? Why?

What about boarding school – what What about boarding school – what do you think of that idea?do you think of that idea?

What differences can you see What differences can you see between the British school system between the British school system and the Italian school system?and the Italian school system?