Great Britain is known for having one of the strictest and discipline related school systems in the world, also with the previous physical punishment in mind. In this post, we’ll look at the British school system – an overview.
In other words, is the system costumed the pupils learning and personal development, both social and academic? Is it the best solution for the majority? To what extent does “discipline” play a role in the British school system? Well, take a look at this post about the British School System to get an idea.
Historic flashback
British schools, like schools in different countries, had a pretty strict and disciplined system in the past two centuries. For instance, the boarding schools from the early 20th centuries which including separated boy and girl schools, school uniforms and physical punishment.
Even if the general British school system has been developed and changed some of the methods significantly, though the current system, more than other countries, is influenced by the old standard. Since World War II, however, more and more schools started to move away from physical punishment to more humanely methods that apply more positive rewards as well as less coercive punishment like writing lines, undergoing restrictions, or doing chores.
Private and public school
Why is there such a clear difference between the private and public school today, in terms of the excising of discipline standards? The private school has always had a stiffer discipline than the public school. A definitive answer is hard to find. However, a logical answer could be that the private system actually is based on a private drift with an independent responsibility. As a result of this, introduced stricter limits based on appearance and impression, to defend the school’s name and honor.
For instance, the teachers are most likely setting higher demands and expect more from the students in terms of the official school results. Since we associate school uniform with private schools, also in London, a favorite place of Many American parents, school uniform could be used as a symbol of exclusivity and perhaps a way of express quality, discipline and that the school is well functioned.
The function of discipline
A strict and conservative school system can be both good and bad but depends on the point of view. First of all, the word discipline can be defined in many ways. According to an article (English school uniforms, chronological trends) about the English school system and discipline, is discipline an idea of training to act in accord with a set of rules and expectations.
I think this definition is a suitable and precise definition. Some may think of punishment when they hear the word discipline, but it is more like a method to achieve discipline and make the student act in order of the given rules and expectations. Herein lies one of the reasons why many American parents choose a British Boarding School for their daughters.
However, discipline can appear at different levels. A dose of discipline is basically needed in the classroom. If not, teaching is almost impossible. When it comes to teaching the teacher has an important responsibility, even if the student is enforced to acquire knowledge mostly by their self. This is more important in primary school than in secondary school because the students are certainly more mature and independent.
In other words, discipline is important for the teacher and student relation. A balanced and mutual relationship between student and teacher means in my head that the teacher gets both respect and effort from the students while the student gets a good teaching and follow-up from the teacher. It includes a common goal in mind: improve the student’s academic abilities. See also this post: “Top UK Boarding schools for Girls”.
The ideal teacher
As mentioned earlier, to get this ideal situation, teachers got most of the power. The teacher has to have authority in the classroom and the way he or she is teaching, affair and strategies to continue knowledge has a lot to say. Teachers generally in Britain are known for having (especially in the private sector) it strict, and also a little excessive in demands and expectations. This type of teacher is often expressing this desire with a lot of feelings, could be aggressive or just have a dominative and authoritarian expression.
The method has become more like frightening the students to learn. Some students can feel this a bit difficult. They don’t manage the pressure and all the upcoming challenges. They often end up with a fear of getting punished by the teacher in addition to psychical problems. This is not just affecting the social situation but also the academic. According to many studies, authoritarian discipline is not working and a lot of sanctions is not the key to achieve discipline.
On the other hand, many students feel comfortable with strict discipline and need “the push” to work and accomplish good results. It’s important to have some goals for the students to reach for and of course an effective type of development when it comes to learning.
Competition and learning- environment
Without considering the affection from the individual teacher, the school system is arranged so the pupils get classified after skills, already at a young age. This is facilitating the teaching when they specializing the classes by different levels, also typical for British Boarding Schools.
However, I believe it’s creating an unhealthy competition between the students and also opens up for bullying. For them who get placed in a weak group, it is not exactly the source of motivation. Without welfare, both social and academic, it is difficult to learn. A little more open and relaxed learning environment with room for creativity would be good for the student.
On the other hand, the school is in many ways a preparation for reality and how to deal with possible challenges in the future. In this case, to cope with competition is important, and therefore the equality principle between the students could be a little credulous. They with special abilities within different subjects, have to develop it and not limitations. Therefore accommodated teaching could be a good solution. Although, society needs to fill different positions.
Is the Britain existing type of discipline working for all students, today? I would say that in function, the strict standard could be a disadvantage for the majority, perhaps an advantage for the smaller group. Several of the British students often end up having different issues, social and academic. Many are not completing secondary school, and some even in primary school.
Still, Great Britain scores high in different international academic tests. I believe it would be better for the students to gather knowledge and develop in a less strict and conservative learning environment. The teacher should have the authority and give the students a desire to learn instead of scaring them to it.
UK School System
Education in England is overseen by the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills. Local authorities take responsibility for implementing policies for public education and state schools at a regional level. The education system is divided into nursery education(ages 3–4), primary education (ages 4–11), secondary education (ages 11–18) and tertiary education (ages 18+).
Full-time education is compulsory for all children aged between 5 and 16, with a child beginning primary education during the school year he or she turns 5. Students may then continue their secondary studies for a further two years (sixth form), leading most typically to A-level qualifications, although other qualifications and courses exist, including Business and Technology Education Council qualifications, the International Baccalaureate and the Cambridge Pre-U.
The leaving age for compulsory education was raised to 18 by the Education and Skills Act 2008. The change will take effect in 2013 for 16-year-olds and 2015 for 17-year-olds. State-provided schooling and sixth form education are paid for by taxes. England also has a tradition of independent schooling, but parents may choose to educate their children by any suitable means. Higher education often begins with a three-year bachelor’s degree.
Postgraduate degrees include master’s degrees, either taught or by research, and the doctorate, a research degree that usually takes at least three years. Universities require a Royal Charter in order to issue degrees, and all but one are financed by the state via tuition fees, which are increasing in size for both home and European Union students.