Education is provided by state schools and independent schools. State schools are free. If pupils go to a public or private school, parents pay for their education. Compulsory education means that all children must attend school between the ages of 5 and 16. Kindergartens and nursery classes are optional. Children start school at the age of five and in 6 years provide secondary education. There are no entrance examinations in comprehensive schools. If pupils want to enter a grammar school, they have to pass the 11+ exams. Pupils take an exam at the end of each 4 stages of education. In England about 93 per cent of children attend state schools, which provide free education.The other 7 per cent attend independet school-private and public schools. Some of these schools are boarding schools where children live and study. If parents want to send their children to a private or a public school, they have to pay for their education. The most famous public schools are Eton, *Harrow* and Winchester.* -For small children, there are state kindergartens, private kindergarten classes*in schools, which are optional. -Secondary education is compulsory. It means all children must attend school between the ages 5 and 16. Most children start their education at the age of 5. Primary school may be divided into two parts: during the first two years reading, writing and arithmetic are taught for about 20 minutes a day. There is usually no written timetable. Much time is spent in modelling from clay or drawing, reading and singing. In Year 3 the *real work* starts. The children have lesson in arithmetic, reading and composition. History, Geography, Nature Study, Art and Music, PE, Swimming are also in the timetable. All schools follow the same National Curriculum. *The children attend the primary school for 6 years. -Comprehensive schools provide compulsory education for children between the ages of 11 and 16. Comprehensive schools affer 5-year courses to all pupils; there are no entrance examinations there. Some children enter grammar school which also provide secondary education. If a pupil wants to study at a grammar school, he or she has to pass the 11+ exams. There are 10 subjects, which all children must study at secondary school, and there are some optional subjects that are different in different schools. The whole period of compulsory education is divided into four stages. At the end of each (Years 2,6,9 and 11) pupils national examinations.
They are wearing their school uniform and are carying their school-books in their bags. School begins at 9 o'clock and there are lessons till 11 o'clock, when it is time for the milk break. The boys and girls go into the playground and get their milk there. During the break pupils can play in the playground. The boys play football and the girls play with a ball or walk in the playground. But some boys and girls only stand, talk and watch the games. Then the bell rings. School begins again and they all hurry into their classrooms.
After the milk break there are lessons till 1 o'clock, when it is time for lunch. The boys and girls go into the school dining-room to have lunch. In England many pupils have their lunch at school, but some children, who live very near their school, go home for lunch and come back for afternoon school.
The pupils who have lunch in the school dining-room get meat with potatoes and vegetables and some pudding.
Lunch break is more than an hour. After lunch again there is time to go out and play. In the summer all the boys and girls like to go into the playground and play in the sun, but in the winter, when it is cold, they like to be in the cloak-rooms and play there. The big boys and girls who are on duty tell the others to go into the fresh air. It is not good for children to have no fresh air all day. But when it is raining, the boys and girls can go into the classrooms and read or play there. Many pupils do their homework at that time and then they are free in the evening to go out with their friends or to watch television.
At 2 o'clock school begins again. In this school the pupils do not only have lessons in history, geography and arithmetic; the girls learn to type, to sew, and to cook, and the boys do metal-work and woodwork. In some schools in England girls also do metal-work and boys learn to cook. When they finish school, they can be cooks in hotels.
At 3 o'clock it is time for games. In English schools the girls usually play hockey in the winter and basket-ball or tennis in the summer; the boys play football in the winter and cricket or tennis in the summer. School is over at 4 o'clock. The children take the books for their homework and hurry to the cloak-room to get their hats and coats and go home.
Very soon after 4 o'clock the school is empty, only some children and teachers stay there. One or two boys and girls must stay in the classroom and write something as a punishment. Others are staying for a club meeting. Clubs usually have their meetings when school is over. Then they will all go home and the school will be empty till tomorrow.