Week 8 Back to school! Reading 3 Leggi il testo e decidi se le frasi di seguito sono vere (T) o false (F); correggi quelle false. Hi, Laura! In your email you asked me about my school and the British education system. Well, in Britain the education system can vary according to the different countries; in England it is divided into early years (ages 3-4), primary education (ages 5-11), secondary education (ages 11-18) and higher education (ages 18+). Full time education is compulsory for all children between 5 and 17. Before 2013, the school leaving age was 16, but in 2008 a new act changed it and in 2015 all pupils (like me!) will go to school until they re 18. Most children attend state schools which are financed through national taxation, so between the ages of 3 and 18, education is free of charge for families. Sometimes schools ask for money for activities such as swimming, drama lessons or trips, but the charges are voluntary, so even those who can t afford to pay are allowed to participate to such events. A minority of pupils attend independent schools and pay a fee: some of these schools are really famous and they are called prep schools for children between 8-13 years old and public schools for 13-18 year olds, like Eaton, where Prince William studied. Unlike independent schools, all state schools have to follow The National Curriculum, divided into different key stages. The core subjects English, Mathematics and Science are compulsory for students aged 5-17, while other subjects (such as Art & Design, Geography, History, Modern Foreign Languages) become compulsory at one or more key stages. In the last two years, before reaching the school leaving age, you have to take GCSE exams, usually in 8-10 subjects: that is what I m doing and this year I m sure I ll have to study hard for these exams! Lastly, university usually begins with a three-year bachelor s degree , which can be followed by a postgraduate degree. As for my school, I attend a state comprehensive school not far from my home and my lessons start at 9 a.m. and finish at 3:30 p.m. five days a week, from Monday to Friday. I usually have lunch with my mates in the school canteen and I often stay at school after lessons to go to my favourite clubs. Love, Joan T F 1 In 2013 children could leave school at 16. 2 Pupils from 3 to 18 don t pay any fees at state schools. 3 Eaton is a public school for 13 to 18 year-old pupils. 4 All English schools have to follow The National Curriculum. 5 Besides the core subjects, pupils choose what other subjects they want to study. 6 GCSEs are 8-10 exams which pupils have to take at the leaving age. 7 A-level exams are usually related to specific subjects that pupils will study at university. USEFUL WORDS to afford = far fronte; to allow = permettere; to attend = frequentare; bacherlor's degree = laurea di primo livello; charge = retta, pagamento; club = locale, discoteca; comprehensive school = scuola media superiore unificata; compulsory = obbligatorio; core = principali; leaving age = età in cui si lascia la scuola; mate = compagno/a; prep school = scuola che prepara alla public school . 76