Education in Britain

1
Education in Britain

• How do we learn to be part of our society?

2
Types of education

• Formal education takes place in schools and
  colleges.
• Informal education is learned as we live our
  lives
• The difference is that formal education is tested
  and informal is not.

3
Why does the education system change?

• Political reasons Governments often want
  educational change to show that they are doing
  their job.
• Economic reasons Schools and colleges are
  expensive for a country.
• Social reasons Ideas about education change
  regularly.

4
How has the system changed?

• Parents have more power and can choose schools
• There is a wider variety of schools.
• There is a national curriculum which all children
  learn.
• Schools have a more professional and business
  style.

5
What is the hidden curriculum?

• We may learn things in school that no-one
  intended to teach. We are not aware it happens.
• Sexism from books, peer group and teachers
• Racism from books and the curriculum
• Fibbing to survive school life

6
Who influences us?

• We may not succeed if we are from a poor
  background because we do not have the material
  things we need
• Good food
• A space to work
• Books and computers
• Money for a tutor

7
Who else affects us?

• We may not succeed if we are from a poor
  background because we do not have the cultural
  things that help us.
• Access to information
• Knowledge of how the system works
• Lots of conversations and toys at home
• Understanding of how to behave

8
And teachers ?

• Teachers can affect our success.
• Without realising it, they may label us as
  bright or naughty and we behave according to
  the labels.
• We can influence those labels, but once they are
  in place, they tend to stick to us and it is
  difficult to change them.

9
Other pupils ?

• Everyone wants to fit in to the norms and values
  of their peer groups.
• We dress the same, have similar fashions in
  music, styles of hair and ideas about the world.
• If we mix with rebels, we may act like them and
  this will prevent us succeeding according to
  school rules.

10
Effect of education?

• There are plenty of places you can be educated,
  but it is easier in school than in later life.
• Educated people usually earn more, live longer
  and have easier lives than less educated people.
• Professional people encourage their children to
  be educated because they know these things.

11
The end

• The moral of the story is that you need to work
  hard in school to do well and have an easier
  life.
• Mrs Griffiths