InBritainallchildrenhavetogotoschoolbetweentheagesof5and16.IntheUSchildrenmustgotoschoolfromtheageof6tobetweentheagesof14and16,dependingonthestatetheylivein.SubjectInEnglandandWalesthesubjectstau
InBritainallchildrenhavetogotoschoolbetweentheagesof5and16.IntheUSchildrenmustgotoschoolfromtheageof6tobetweentheagesof14and16,dependingonthestatetheylivein.
Subject
InEnglandandWalesthesubjectstaughtinschoolsarelaiddownbytheNationalCurriculum,whichwasintroducedin1988andsetsout indetailthesubjectsthatchildrenshouldstudyandthelevelsofachievementtheyshouldreachbytheagesof7,11,14and16,whentheyaretested.TheNationalCurriculumdoesnotapplytoScotland,whereeachschooldecideswhatsubjectsitwillteach.
IntheUSthesubjectstaughtaredecidedbynationalandlocalgovernments.WhereasBritishschoolsusuallyhaveprayersandreligiousinstruction,Americanschoolsarenotallowedtoincludeprayersortoteachparticularreligiousbeliefs.
Examinations
At16studentsinEnglandandWalestakeGeneralcertificateofSecondaryEducation(GCSE)examinations.Theseexaminationsaretakenbystudentsofalllevelsofabilityinallsubjectsandmayinvolveafinalexamination,anassessment,orbothofthesethings.At18somestudentstakeA-levelexaminations,usuallyinnomorethanthreesubjects.ItisnecessarytohaveAlevelsinordertogotoauniversity.
InScotlandstudentstaketheScottishCertificateofEducation(SCE)examinations.Ayearlater,theycantakeexaminationscalledHIGHS,afterwhichtheycaneithergostraighttoauniversityorspendafurtheryearatschoolandtaketheCertificateofSixthYearStudies.InScotlandtheuniversitysystemisdifferentfromthatinEnglandandWales.Coursesusuallylastfouryearsratherthanthreeandstudentshavetostudyalargernumberofsubjectsaspartoftheirdegree.
IntheUSschoolexaminationsarenotasimportantastheyareinBritain.StudentsinHighSchoolsdohaveexamsattheendoftheirlasttwoyears,butthesefinalexamsareconsideredalongwiththeworkthatthestudentshavedoneduringtheschoolyears.
SocialEventsandCeremonies
InAmericanhighschoolsthereisaformalceremonyforgraduation.Studentswearaspecialcapandgownandreceiveadiplomafromtheheadoftheschool.Studentsoftenbuyaclassringtoear,andayearbook,containingpicturesoftheirfriendsandteachers.Therearealsosp