The UK education system
Depending on age, the UK education system is divided into
Preparatory stage, preparatory school - 3-5 years - This stage is optional. The process is built up in a fun way and children are completely interested. The child is taught to read, write, count in order to make him feel comfortable, interesting and fun. It is at this stage that the foundation for further learning is laid - discipline.
Elementary education - 5 - 11 years old.
Secondary education - 11 - 16 years old - after successful completion of the final exams, the student will receive the qualification - GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) - Certificate of Secondary Education, which prepares each student for the last two years of high school education. This course completes the compulsory secondary education curriculum and provides the basis for further education in upper secondary school and university.
High School - 16 - 18 years - Education can be academic or vocational: "Sixth form" or "College" leads to A-level qualifications, as well as many alternative qualifications, such as BTEC, IB, WJEC, and WJEC. It may also include vocational education, internships or voluntary service.
Access to higher education at age 18.
Types of London Schools
By national student composition
In addition to regular schools in the UK that study with international students, there are also so-called international schools that specialize in teaching foreign students. Their programs offer additional English courses, allocating more time to adjust to the new education system, culture and country. International schools can prepare students for high school at an English-speaking school - for example, The Mount, Mill Hill International
By Student Gender
In England, there are girls' schools, boys' schools, combined schools and diamond schools (diamond schools), where children under 11 study together and children aged 11 to 16 study separately, and they merge again in the upper grades.
By Program
Some schools in England offer only high school programs. These schools focus on preparing students for university entrance. They are called sixth form colleges or preparatory schools. Career counselors and tutors work with children to develop special programs for high school students who plan to attend top universities. For example, all graduates of Cardiff Sixth Form College go on to the top 30 universities in the UK, with 20% going on to Oxbridge.
By Level of Choice
Schools in the UK are selective and non-selective. First place - The best students are selected from all applications. To get into such a school, you need to pass an entrance exam, pass several interviews, and be fluent in English. Usually, these are highly rated schools. Non-selective schools accept students of all achievement levels and have much lower entry requirements.
By rating
The main authors of school ratings in the UK are publications such as The Times and The Daily Telegraph, as well as the country's Ministry of Education. The main criteria used to assess schools are the results of A-levels, GCSEs, IB or other exams, depending on the course the student is studying. Other indicators may also be considered - for example, the careers of graduates, technical equipment, number of subjects, level of teachers, etc.
Advantages of London schools
British private schools have highly qualified teachers, excellent infrastructure, and the necessary subjects for in-depth study.
Education in the UK has never been cheap, which is probably the main disadvantage, not everyone can afford to pay for their child's education in a private school, private schools are also popular for their rather strict discipline, although this is more of an advantage than a disadvantage, as parents will be calm about the fact that everything is fine with their child. Advantages should also include.
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Reputation ;
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High standards of teaching.
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High quality of English language teaching.
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Global recognition of diplomas.
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Intensive student life.
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A wide range of educational institutions and programs.
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A combination of modern inventions and British traditions.
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The prospect of studying at a British or international university.
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Further careers in any country in the world.
How to enter a high school in London
To receive secondary education in the UK, students must provide the following documents.
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Extracts of school results from the past years.
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Recommendation of the teacher/class teacher.
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Proof of passing international English exams/in-school tests.
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Letter of motivation.
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A completed school application form.
It is best to start preparing for admission to a British school well in advance, planning to start education at least 1 year in advance, and in some cases 2 years in advance to collect documents and prepare successfully for the English language test. Many language schools and camps are happy to offer exam preparation courses if required.
One of the features of the submitted documents is not only the student's academic achievements, but also merits in science activities, sports, creativity, etc. All this is because the main task of British education is the multifaceted development of the child's personality. Therefore, schools are happy to welcome students who not only study hard, but are also willing to actively participate in school life.
Cost of studying in London high schools
Here the student is offered a full range of services for his money. These are: the education itself, a range of extracurricular activities arranged by the educational institution itself, as well as accommodation and meals. Prices are set by private universities or by the British government. The cost of studying in London has proven to be around 8.000 to 25.000 £ per year of study. This is the case if you are from abroad and are not a UK resident.
Now let's talk about the preparatory course, which students pass before entering the university.
As before, prices may vary.
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For example, if a student wants to take A-level or AS, the price of study will be between four and 8.000 £.
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If he wants to pass a BTEC or other specialization, then from 4.000 to 6.000£.
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Preparation for HNC / HND - from 5.000 to 10.000 £.
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Preparation for basic exams - from 7.000 to 12.000 £.
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Finally, the international preparatory course will cost a student from abroad about 4.000 to 12.000 £.