Key differences between the US and the UK when it comes to education

[@MatthewSchaefer]

I forgot to mention a couple things, none of them are too important, except that I said I was going to talk about public vs private school (they are basically just opposite in our countries....that's an oversimplification....but close enough). I also meant to mention that Scotland has free university for its citizens, which is pretty cool.

[@BeithirBlue]

Education is complete different in Scotland and England

[@babycakes8918]

Interesting video as always 🙌

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@brianonuanain7535]

Schools in GB and Ireland do not have police officers permanently stationed on the school campus (School Resource Officer). This includes Elementary Schools. Irishman currently living in Louisiana where daily police presence is the norm.

[@dianef4227]

England, Scotland and Wales each have different systems, so it’s hard to group them. One key difference between England and US is that in England we start narrowing our subjects a lot younger. At 14 we drop some, at 15 we choose 8-11 subjects only, at 16 we drop to 5, at 17 we drop again to 3. Normally. In the US you keep doing a whole range of subject to age 22.

[@tonyeden2944]

Matthew, what abiut vocational colleges (not Uni, but college) where haurdressing, plumbing, ete etc are taught and qyalifucations obtained. The perfect answer to those who feel less inclined to go fir a Batchelors degree.

[@TukikoTroy]

Really interesting, and accurate from a British perspective. Back in my day (born in 1958) There were 3 different types of Secondary (high) school. Grammar Schools, where you were expected to go on to an academic career via Uni. Technical Schools/ Colleges where you were basing you education around the sciences and engineering. Finally, Secondary Modern Schools which were wrongly labelled the schools for those who didn't make the grade. In reality, these were the schools that provided the raw material for the backbone of the workforce. Which one of the three you ended up in depended on a single result in a test taken at age ten called the 'Eleven Plus'. Thank the gods this is no longer the case and the UK now follows a more sensible streaming system based on the needs of the child as well as their level of education.

[@babycakes8918]

11 plus still exists

[@TukikoTroy]

@@babycakes8918 0.0

[@andrewbutler7681]

I'm glad you mentioned that Secondary Modern Schools were "wrongly labelled the schools for those who didn't make the grade". A Primary School friend and I diverged after the 11 Plus: I went to the Grammar School and he went to the Secondary Modern next door, but we stayed friends and became classmates again in the Sixth Form. In the meanwhile, the way he had been taught was more practical and based on course work, whereas I had been subjected to a more theoretical regime where exams were everything. We both got the same grades at A-Level! That was how that system was supposed to work, but it so rarely achieved those results that the two schools were merged into a Comprehensive even before we left...

[@iriscollins7583]

Depends on what you consider a benefit? Socialising, for instance. Have seen children really blossom when attending what we call nurseries.

[@jasoncallow860]

Another difference with UK degrees, we study only the chosen subject. I believe in the USA you have do core subjects too.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Definitely true. Lots of core subjects.

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

Just found out you have 3 kids now. When did the third one come along ??

[@jerrystirling2096]

What's happening with house renovations ?

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

House has been sold - we didn't quite get everything finished that we planned, due to moving, but we did leave it feeling pretty good overall.

[@oninbridders]

You started taking about getting a trade, but you didn't talk about going to a UK college (age 16 to 18) which is a alternative to 6th form (year 13-14), but it is still possible to divert back onto university afterwards. Colleges traditionally are geared up for vocational studies, such as the trades, but in my case I studied computing, which lead me only university. Uk colleges also teach the traditional academic subjects so can give students the option to not study at their secondary school. Some secondary schools don't even offer a 6th form, so students have to move onto college. Also in regards to the terminology of US college and UK universities, UK universities were traditionally formed of smaller colleges, which is, im guessing where the US term came from. There are a few examples if this happening, maybe the UK tried to modernise over time, where the US kept traditional. Since I have left Uni, my university has started to adopt, what I would call US terminology. There is also a big divide between old and 'new' UK universities.

[@john_smith1471]

Thing is there isn't a UK wide system, some areas of England retained the 11 Plus exam and Grammar Schools some have not, Scotland has a separate education system to England also Scotland does not have tuition fees.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

True, definitely different depending on where you are in the UK (even different depending on public vs private school, and can even be different in different parts of England, for instance).

[@john_smith1471]

@@SchaeferFamilyAdventure yes Indeed, terminology is different, state schools vs private schools, In Britain a public school is a private school.

[@233Hicks]

Did I have the shudder of disgust at hearing the mention of phonics... oh yes. It's still consistent.

[@jillhobson6128]

In the UK, we have to have religious education. In the US you don't so why are Americans far more religious than Britons? You also have so many weird religions.

[@Andy_U]

Hiya. Regarding the paying back of UK university fees, the easiest thing to do is just YT Search 'Martin Lewis Student Loans'. He explains it all. Stay safe. All the best to you.

[@SchaeferFamilyAdventure]

Ah, very good explanation! Thank you for sharing.