British Education and the National Curriculum - Essay Example

British Education Introduction The British Education system has evolved over the time since the World War II. There have been significant changes which include the introduction of the National Curriculum, the standards of private and public schools, the structure of education, and the strong controls on the stages of education to ensure the student growth and development. The distinction between the independent and private schools is very important to consider when explaining the educational experiences of a British student. The independent schools are usually considered high standard schools which are expensive and mostly the students pursue professional education and enter the top universities. Independent schools are state owned schools which follow the National Curriculum designed following the Education Reform Act 1988 (Aldrich, 2002, p. 21). According to the curriculum, children in England must attend school in the primary and secondary stages from ages 5 to 16. The National Curriculum is divided into four stages: primary, secondary, further, and higher education. The British education system has truly shaped the lives and values of the students. The first stage of my experience is the primary education starting at the age of 5 and continues to the age of 11 (Bartlett & Burton, 2007, p. 43). In this stage, I attended a state school which was located in my area. At this stage, children are usually scared and new to the formal setting of a school. I was send to a class with just one teacher who would stay in the class all day and interact with students. It was solely the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that every new student feels comfortable and adjusts well in the environment (Matheson, 2004, p. 54). The teacher used to teach me and guide me throughout different activities such as practical exercises, repeating words, making sounds, and learning numbers. The basic subjects were taught including English and Math. As the years passed, new subjects were introduced and a single teacher taught throughout the day (Mwenda, 2007, p. 66). In this education stage, the school had just one teacher and one class in which the student adjusts. The teacher teaches and nurtures the students and acts like a second mother at school. This comforted me in school but it didn’t prepare me for the secondary education stage where there were a number of teachers and the school setting was more formal. The teacher taught various life lessons and discipline. She would also punish me if I didn’t listen to her. This practice created resistance in the students. However, many things have changed in the provision of primary education. The norm of punishing the students has been strictly banned and the system encourages more than one teacher in a class to ensure that students are prepared for a school setting (Grafmuller, 2009, p. 3). The system of education broadly encouraged students to be disciplined, follow a particular code of conduct, and building social relationships through effective communication was encouraged for students since an early age (Goodson, 2005, p. 13). The second stage that I went through was the secondary education which continued from the age of 11 to 16. In this stage, I was taught various subjects including History, Geography, Science, Mathematics, English Literature, and Computer Studies to name a few. In this stage, there were a number of teachers that I interacted with and the focus of the system was now to prepare me for further education. Small scale tests were introduced which ensured that I was concentrating and learning. Primary education focused on the personal growth and secondary focused on the academic and growth in learning (Griffith, 2012, p. 16). In this stage, the education system was much more formal and straightforward. Discipline and interpersonal skills were expected from the students. The state schools also consisted of various opportunities for music, drama, sports, and other extracurricular activities as they believed that students in this age are more likely to develop their interests and learn new skills. Teachers and trainers guided and motivated the students to participate in all sorts of extracurricular activities and it was compulsory for all students to take part (Anderson, 2006, p. 75). In the education system today, schools ensure that all students are given the choice to take part in the activities that interest them. They are exposed to every activity but they are mastered in the skill which they are good in. The third stage of education is the further education which is optional for students if they want to pursue to. I pursued further education in A-Levels examinations. This stage of the education system enabled me to understand and accept the subjects that I want to study and earn a degree in. In this stage, teachers are just the formal trainers and most of the learning is done by the student himself. The teachers guide through the course outline and the students have to be prepared for the examinations. In this stage, the education system ensures that the student is able to learn, evaluate, analyze, and present answers to the examiners (Lawton, 2003, p. 306). This educational stage prepares students for higher education and professional life. It focuses purely on academic and professional development instead of personal growth. The students are guided throughout the courses and expected to be able to attempt examinations lasting for 2-3 hours or more. Students are taught ways in which answers must be given, how analysis must be done, and how practical solutions are implemented. The teachers give students a counseling session to prepare them on how examinations must be taken and how the decorum of the examination hall is followed. This also teaches students how to handle pressure and manage time (Catterall, 2002, p. 128). The last stage that I went through is the higher education. By this time, I had started thinking like an adult and understood the importance of education for personal and professional development. The higher education is a very professional approach where teachers do not guide students through each and every problem. They deliver formal lectures and give assistance after which students prepare for their degree courses (Halsey, 1997, p. 43). This stage greatly affected the way of learning that I had gone through since childhood. As I reached higher education, there were more technological advancements and different methods of learning and teaching. The education system was more closely based on scientific devices that helped us in faster learning and more access to information (Brown, 2002, p. 130). In this stage, the education system had changed. Teachers had greatly reduced the interpersonal communication and increased the mass media techniques. Lectures, notes, and sessions were given through social media (Williams, 2001, p. 145). The students were taught research methods and preparation of reports using digital content. This enabled the students to be exposed to digital media and new technologies which are important to understand in this fast-growing era (Bowen, 2013, p. 95). In my experience, the education system changed greatly affected the style and approaches to learning. Traditionally, there was no National Curriculum and education at primary level was rather informal and different for all students across Britain. However, the learning process in the primary education was slow and steady as students were taken through a different step-by-step approach. Today, even the primary education has changed its process as digital media has taken over. There are lesser interactions between the teacher and student now as children are exposed to devices and digital tools. This affects the overall development of the students as interpersonal skills weaken and students are brought up with lesser confidence (Starkey, 2012, p. 107). However, the significance of my educational experience was that I experienced the changes in the ways and approaches of learning. The education system has evolved due to the technologies and digital age which has changed the ways students live and behave in formal settings. The British education system has changed in many ways and that has a profound impact on the students’ lives. References Aldrich, R. 2002. Century of Education. London: Routledge Anderson, R. 2006. British Universities Past and Present. UK: A&C Black Bartlett, S. & Burton D. 2007. Introduction to Education Studies. London: SAGE Publications Bowen, W. 2013. Higher Education in the Digital Age. USA: Princeton University Press Brown, R. 2002. Society and Economy in Modern Britain 1700-1850. UK: Routledge Catterall, P. 2002. Understanding Post-War British Society. UK: Routledge Goodson, I. 2005. Learning, Curriculum, and Life Politics. UK: Psychology Press Grafmuller, K. 2009. The Genesis of the British Education System. UK: GRIN Verlag Griffith, R. 2012. National Curriculum: National Disaster? UK: Routledge Halsey, A. 1997. Education: Culture, Economy, and Society. UK: Oxford University Press Lawton, D. 2003. Dictionary of British Education. UK: Psychology Press Matheson, D. 2004. An Introduction to the Study of Education. London: David Fulton Mwenda, K. 2007. Comparing American and British Legal Education Systems. USA: Cambria Press Starkey, L. 2012. Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age. UK: Routledge Williams, R. 2001. The Long Revolution. UK: Broadview Press Read More