The British Educational SystemAs far as we know, there are pre-primary schools, primary schools, secondary schools and university or college. Pre-school education is available (often on a fee-paying basis) for children aged 2 to 4/5 through playgroups and nursery schools. And many of them are private. The emphasis of pre-primary schools is on group work, creative activity and guided play.Two systems of primary and secondary education in Britain: 1. State Schools: 11-year Compulsory Education (5-16), we can know that there is comprehensive school (84%), grammar school (3%) or secondary modern school (7%) from the state primary school. 2. Public schools/Independent schools: there is an only 7% public (independent) school from prep school.What are the main differences between the two? We can find four points. 1. School Funding. In state schools, state funding from central government; supplemented by local finance. And in public schools, funding from tuition fees; endowments or donations from society (esp. alumni to their ammeters). 2. Attendance. There are 93% in state schools, only 7% in the public schools. 3. Teaching Staff and Facilities. Public schools have better teaching staff & facilities. 4. Graduates. Students from the public schools are more promising, e.g. Eton College has educated 20 Prime Ministers, 6 Chancellors of Exchequers, etc.Compulsory education begins at 5 in England, Wales and Scotland and 4 in Northern Ireland. Pupils mainly attend state sector primary schools (co-educational or mixed schools). Infants schools have equal to the first schools (for 2 years from 5). Junior schools (for 4 years to 11). There’s little or no specialist subject teaching and great emphasis is on literacy and numeracy in early years.Compulsory education ends at age 16. At 16, students in England and Wales take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations involving a final exam, an assessment of work done during the two-year course, or both of these things. Then they can leave school and find a job. Other pupils who decide not to go to university may choose to take vocational training and get the GNVQ (GeneralNational V ocational Qualification).In my opinion, about the entrance procedures, in the third term of Year 12, students prepare their applications to university. Applications are then made in the first term of the Year 13 through one centralized organization known as UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Students can apply to a maximum of 6 universities/institutions. Admission-selection on basis of A level results & an interview.In teaching methods, we can see, the UK educational system encourages self-study, discussions and practical work. The students may have time-tabled classes or might be encouraged to do more of independent work for a substantial amount of time depending on the course.Most of the courses would include the following teaching methods: lectures, seminars, tutorials, independent workand coursework.There are two famous universities in Britain. They are the Cambridge and Oxford. Cambridge University was founded in 1209 by students fleeing from Oxford after one of the many episodes of violence between the university and the town of Oxford. Cambridge is one of the world’s great universities, and has the ability to transform lives. If you study here, you will experience that quality at first hand. Day to day, you will work with academic staff who are leaders in their fields, and who are also committed to see you succeed, and to help you develop your ideas, knowledge and understanding.Legend has it that Oxford University was founded by King Alfred in 872 to encourage education and establish schools throughout his territory. Like a grammar school, it was just a place for teaching Latin grammar at that time. The University actually began in the 12th century as gatherings of students around popular masters. The university consisted of people, not buildings. The buildings came later as a recognition of something that already existed. In a way, Oxford was never founded; it grew.Oxford is one of the greatest universities in the world. It has played a distinguished part in the history of our country and our continent, and has much to contribute to our success and our well-being as a civilized community in the future.The Boat Race between Oxford & Cambridge started June 10, 1829.The event is now a British national institution, and is televised live each year. The race has beenwon by Cambridge 79 times and Oxford 73 so far. The race is currently run over a four mile and 374 yard (6.8 km) stretch of the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake in London.Oxford wear dark blue and Cambridge light blue.In Chinese higher education, we can find five dilemmas. There is enrollment expansion, elite education vs mass education, intense competition in the job market, resources are straining and education quality is suffering.There are five defects of Chinese higher education. Defect 1: Blind Enrollment Expansion. Universities seem to have enrolled more than they can accommodate! Limited facilities & space, insufficient resources, shabby dorms (slum)…Expansion means a lot more! Fierce competition in the job market. Defect 2: Awkward Teaching Method. Teachers tend to spoon-feed their students who are in turn spoon-fed and force-fed!More trust, freedom, interactions and responsibilities for the students! Teachers should serve as advisors & assistants!Defect 3: Prescribed / Designated Textbooks. A lack of flexibility (few alternative choices), Outdated contents (keep pace with), The prescribed textbooks can be replaced by …Defect 4: Unreasonable Curriculum. Many outdated courses should be abolished! More utilitarian courses are welcome! (Computer Science, Business, Finance, Accounting and Law)One shouldn’t be confined to one’s specific field.Moral education is in urgent demand! (campus violence, suicide, theft, murder) Defect 5:Unfair Assessment System. Exam-oriented style! (Scores talk!)Students: exams of lottery(memory test / work overtime shortly before the test)How can we improve it? I will show my answer. It’s a time-consuming & systematic project.Never wait for the improvement! Get a move now! You and me are part of Chinese higher education! Try to make the best and most of the current situation! Stop complaining and try to make a difference from now on.。