English Education System

I was surprised to learn how different the education system is in England compared to the United States.  The education system consists of preschool (ages 3-4), primary school (ages 5-11), secondary school (ages 11-16), Sixth form (ages 16-18) and University (ages 18-21), with only primary and secondary school being "compulsory" or mandatory. There are two different types of schools, independent and state schools. The two types of independent schools are public and private schools. Unlike the U.S., public schools, are the elite, expensive and prestigious schools of choice for the upper class and even royalty. Private schools also cost money to attend, however they are not nearly as expensive as public schools. Both public and private independent schools however are very elite, exclusive and upper class. There are three types of state(or free) schools, faith, comprehensives and new academies. Faith schools are known as very good schools and also have a religious background they incorporate into learning. Comprehensives are where 87% of English children go to, however their reputations are poor in comparison to faith schools. Their too rigid national curriculum, issues of teachers and prestige, and children coming from very rough backgrounds makes this type of state school a last preference for many parents. There are also new academies, failed schools that are given money and made into a more strict and efficient schools, however these are not as common as the other two.

What I found most interesting about the English education system is how teenagers are to pick their future majors/careers at a very early age. Secondary school ends at age 16, the last of mandatory schooling for the English. This means that for further schooling, like sixth form, for example, teenagers at the age of sixteen are suppose to already know what they want to do. They pick just a couple of subjects they want to focus on, and study only those subjects for a couple of years. By age 18, these young people are already an expert in their subject of choice. I think this is great if you don't change your mind later on. However, as we all know, most of us (especially from our teenage to adult years) do change our minds, and that could make what is learned outside of secondary school a waste of time.  I think this shows the efficiency of the English education, getting young people educated right away, not wasting any time, however it also is a lot of pressure a potential waste of time for English youth. 

Overall, from this lecture, I learned that the English education system is much more timely, rigid and efficient than ours in the U.S. At the same time however, it makes me appreciative of our education system and how we do have so much choice and time to figure out what we want to study and do with our lives. I have noticed, however, that here in England, there are countless 22-25 year olds already living on their own and working at a good job, having graduated college by 21. Through that is supposed to be how it works in the U.S., it is rare that someone graduates on time by 21 let alone already has a job and their place. That is what I do almost admire about the English education system, no time is wasted and young adults are much more independent here than back home.