A quick and dirty guide to the British education system (part 1)

Dec 29, 2010 16:54

... Or why Eames could well have attended a fee paying public school, gone to college at 16 and didn't have a major at university ( Read more... )

fanfic

Leave a comment

Comments 41

(The comment has been removed)

nomorefrostbite December 30 2010, 22:56:18 UTC
You can take A Levels (and GCSE'S in fact) at any age, and can do them fulltime at a College or part time if you prefer. A LOT of older people and people in the workforce take part time A Levels, either due to interest in the subject, to get better qualifications, or to secure Mature Student University entry.
You do need A-levels or their equivalent similar qualifications (a bit different in Scotland) to get into University though.
We don't have anything like the GED or diploma.

Sorry to butt in gemnoire!

Reply

gemnoire December 30 2010, 23:25:11 UTC
Thanks for that - yes, I should have added that in (in fact, I will do if you don't mind, of course giving you appropriate citation). You can also take A-Levels/GCSEs after only one year of study or indeed no study - as I, and a lot of people, do with languages they may be fluent in, or if you're especially talented (You occasionally get cases of Maths geniuses taking them at 9 or 10 for example).

A lot of Colleges offer evening Adult education classes for getting A-Levels/GCSEs, as will things like the army or employers (although the later it is often more towards GNVQs which are vocational qualifications and I admit I didn't go into at all)

Reply


nomorefrostbite December 30 2010, 22:52:22 UTC
Well I went to an Independent School until 16, then to a State College for A Levels after that, and I can attest to the fact that the food was EXCELLENT and of extremely high quality when compared to the slop served in Comprehensive/State schools, which usually consists of chips and rubbish like that.

There was, however, an extremely high incidence of Class A drug taking.

Reply

gemnoire December 30 2010, 23:27:50 UTC
The food comment was more a tongue in cheek referrence to the reputation of food at classic Public Schools (something a friend of mine who went to Eton vigorously supports).

I do imagine that the food is still much, much better than state schools - but well, having borded myself, eating school food, even good school food for every meal is never going to be as nice as home cooking.

Reply

nomorefrostbite December 30 2010, 23:33:39 UTC
It's too mass-produced to be as good as proper home cooking, despite them often getting really good and reputable professional chefs in.

I boarded too for six months, but I was mostly a day pupil, and got to escape at night.

Reply

gemnoire December 30 2010, 23:46:20 UTC
Alas, I boarded for two years, although it was a boarding facility attached to a state sixth form. The food was, yeah, pretty bad, although generally there was a decently healthy options for both lunch and dinner rather than just chips or similar.

Reply


towel_master December 30 2010, 23:24:29 UTC
Thank you for this guide! XD I tried looking into the system myself but... that didn't work out so well!

Reply

gemnoire December 30 2010, 23:38:33 UTC
(hmm, I was sure I'd posted a reply to this - ah well, we'll see if a double-post turns up)

The system is not the easiest in the world I will admit (although don't get me started on the Belgian system either - which is where I did the rest of my schooling), which is why I figured this sort of thing may be useful, glad you liked it.

Next up - University, that should be a fun headache for me.

Reply


(The comment has been removed)

gemnoire December 31 2010, 08:14:09 UTC
Glad you liked it.

Hmm, I should have said compulsory schooling starts at 5. AFAIK not every school has a reception (as usual depends on LEA).

Yes, you're right about the difference between Sixth forms and Colleges... I admit I didn't get into it all that much but it's a good point (the College I went to offered 26 different subjects from the traditional to the more unusual).

Reply


sadsongsradio December 31 2010, 01:02:01 UTC
Scotland may not be entirely useful for this fandom but as a Scottish School and University student I will be happy to pitch in or write a small blurb if you needed.

:D

Reply

gemnoire December 31 2010, 07:59:45 UTC
If you felt like doing that, that would be awesome and I'll happily add it in (or add a link if it's easier to do it on your LJ). I now next to nothing abotu the Scottish system, so I didn't feel comfortable writing about it.

If nothing else it can help illustrate how nothing in the UK is consistent between the constituent countries.

Reply

sadsongsradio December 31 2010, 17:07:19 UTC
I will probably write it after work tomorrow! Shall I post it here or send it to you....don't really post it in my LJ at all.

Reply

gemnoire January 17 2011, 18:58:50 UTC
Doh, just noticed this comment. I suggest posting it here to keep everything in one place.

Thanks

Reply


Leave a comment

Up