Education system in GB and Slovakia

Great Britain:
In Britain today, education is compulsory from the age of 5 to 16. There are 5 schools days a week. The academic year begins after the summer holidays and is divided to 3 terms. 3 and 4 year old children receive nursery education in kindergarten. / About 47 percent of children go there / about 93 percent of British pupils receive their education at school supported by public funds, the rest attend private or church schools. State education is divided into 2 main stages:
Primary schools from the age of 5 to 11.

Secondary schools are of 4 main types:
1. Grammar schools are state or independent. They are selective and take more academically able children. The prepare students for the studies at universities.

2. Secondary modern schools which provide a practical education in addition to a general education. Students leave them at 16.

3. Comprehensive schools are a combination of grammar and modern school. They take pupils of all abilities and very wide-spread.

4. Public schools – independent, private schools charging very high fees. They are mostly boarding schools. The most famous is Eton.

Subjects taught at schools are: English, Math, Science, History, Technology, Music, Art, Physical education, languages etc.

Examinations:
The principal examination taken at the age of 16 is the General Certificate of Secondary Education. At the age of 18-19 students take General Certificate of Education at Advanced Level. Admission to university, or polytechnic depends on satisfactory A level results.

English Universities:
1. Oxford and Cambridge – the oldest and the most famous.
2. Redbrick Universities – were founded in the 19th century.
3. The new universities opened after 1960.

Slovakia:
The educational system in Slovakia has been reformed several times. Our schools system consists of 4 main grades:

The pre-school grade. From the age of 1 to 6 years children attend crèches and kindergartens. This stage isn’t compulsory.

Basic education is compulsory for everybody after the age of 6. At the so called basic schools children learn this 3 subjects: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, and other subjects: Slovak, languages, History, Geography, Math, Chemistry, Biology etc.

Children over 14-15 are given secondary education at general secondary schools, or secondary grammar schools, vocation schools, apprentice training centers, trade schools, art schools.

Those who want to attend secondary grammar or vocation schools, must pass the entrance examination. The study at most schools finishes with the schools leaving exams. University education includes the study at universities, technical universities, economical universities and colleges, art academies