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Schools in London |
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London, being the capital of England and a center of international Education, has a great number of preliminary educational institutions called schools. Many of them have remarkable backgrounds; many of them have international recognitions. These institutions, spreading throughout the City of London and the Greater London, can be categorized according to their different characteristics. Types :In London there are different types of schools in London providing different facilities, own and run by various organizations. i) State Schools – Here education is free, the schools are funded by taxes and administered by London Borough, following the National Curriculum; the students are restricted to attend a school within their neighborhood; these schools are mostly co educational. ii) Preparatory and Independent or Public Schools - Here parents pay fees, or students win scholarships for education. Preparatory schools cater for students aged between 5 to 13 years, while many Independent or Public Schools provide education from nursery level to 18 years. The schools have single sex, co educational and religious options. There are also – iii) Community Schools – Own and run by Local Education Authority iv) Foundation Schools – Own by a charitable foundation or a governing body and run by the governing body v) Voluntary Controlled Schools – They are church schools. Own by a charitable foundation and run by Local Education Authorities. vi) Voluntary Aided Schools – They are mainly church schools. They are either linked with (a) Church of England or (b) Roman Catholic Church. Own by a charitable foundation and run by (both administration and partly economically) a governing body. School Education System: The educational system of London school is set by National Curriculum based on its rich background. The schools in London level education has mainly 3 levels - i) Nursery Level - Not compulsory; for children between 2-5 years. ii) Primary Level – Compulsory; for children between 4-11 years. Total 6 years of primary education can be sub-divided into – (a) Key Stage 1 : Infant School – for students between 4-7 years. After completing 2 years course they have to pass KS1 National Curriculum Tests for further education. (b) Key Stage 2 : Junior School – for students between 7-11 years. After completing another four years course they go for Secondary schooling. iii) Secondary Level – Compulsory; for students between 11- 16 years. Total 5 years course. This also can be sub-divided into – (a) Key Stage 3: For students of 11-14 years. At the end of 3 years Statutory Attainment Tests are taken. (b) Key Stage 4: For students of 14-16 years. Again at the end of this 2 years’ course there is a General Certificate of Secondary Education exam. And also - iv) Higher Secondary Level – Not compulsory, for students between 16-18 years or above. State Schools’ students have to join College or Sixth Form Center for this two years’ course. Students can go for Higher Studies for degree courses after completing this section with a minimum of two A-level passes. School Hours and Session : The school day is generally from 9 am until 3.30 or 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday. The three-term school year starts in early September and runs until July. There is a week break between each term, two weeks at Easter and Christmas and eight weeks over summer. Subjects and Education : Different subjects are taught at different levels, gradually rising at complexity and vastness. i) Primary Level : at Key Stages 1 & 2 – English, Mathematics, Science, Design and Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), History, Geography, Art and Design, Music, Physical Education. ii) Secondary Level : at Key Stages 3 &4 - English, Mathematics, Science, Design & Technology, Information and Communication Technology, History, Geography, Modern Foreign Language, Art & Design, Music, Citizenship, Physical Education, Religious Education, Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship, Career Education, Sex Education. At Key Stage 4 students can choose optional subjects. iii) Higher Secondary Level – Colleges or Sixth Form Center offer more subjects options than the schools where this level education is available. Generally there are four courses – (a) GCSE courses, (b) A levels courses, (c) AS levels course and (d) Vocational Courses. Schools: There are 1611 schools in London found listed. According to The Times Primary School ranking on the percentage of eligible pupils reaching at least Level 4 of the national curriculum in the summer tests’ 2004, the top schools are (from different areas of London) – 1. St Vincent's RC VA, Dagenham, Barking and Dagenham 2. Independent Jewish Day VA, London, Barnet 3. St Joseph's RC J VA, London, Barnet 4. St Paul's CoE VA, London, Barnet 5. St Paulinus Church of Engl & VA, Dartford, Bexley 6. Leopold CY, London, Brent 7. St James' RC VA, Orpington, Bromley 8. Emmanuel Church of Engl & VA, London, Camden 9. Sir John Cass's Foundation VA, London, London Corporation 10. St James The Great RC VA, Thorntn Heath, Croydon 11. St Gregory's RC VA, London, Ealing 12. St Andrew's CoE VA, Enfield 13. Christ Church CoE Shooters Hill, VA, Greenwich 14. Colvestone CY, London, Hackney 15. The London Oratory, VA, London, Hammersmith & Fulham 16. St Martin of Porres RC VA, London, Haringey 17. St Martin of Porres RC VA, London, Harrow 18. Dame Tipping CoE VC, Romford, Havering 19. Warrender CY, Ruislip, Hillingdon 20. St Michael & St Martin RC VA, Hounslow 21. St Peter and St Paul RC VA, London, Islington 22. St Barnabas & St Philip's CoE VA, London, Kennigston & Chelsea 23. Fern Hill CY, Kingston Upon Thames 24. Fern Hill CY, Kingston Upon Thames, Lambeth 25. All Saints' CoE VA, London, Lewisham 26. Holy Trinity CoE VA, London, Merton 27. St Joachim's RC VA, London, Newham 28. St Antony's RC VA, Woodford Green, Redbridge 29. Sacred Heart Roman RC VA, Teddington, Richmond 30. St Mary's & St Peter's CoE VA, Teddington, Richmond 31. Friars Foundation , FD, London, Southwark 32. Nonsuch CY, Epsom, Sutton 33. William Davis CY, London, Tower of Hamlet 34. St Mary's RC VA, London, Waltham Forest 35. Our Lady of Victories RC VA, London, Wondsworth 36. Hampden Gurney CoE VA, London, Westminster 37. St Peter's CoE , VA, London, Westminster Here some abbreviations are used to denote the type of schools. The full forms are: CoE - Church of England; RC - Roman Catholic; CY - Community School; VA - Voluntary-aided School; VC - Voluntary Controlled School; FD - Foundation School. Other Schools: i) International Schools – There are few international schools in London. These offer a various range of qualification like internal baccalaureate or American SAT. These schools are helpful for expatriate communities, and students who may migrate to other countries. ii) Foreign Language Schools – These are for non-English speaking students. Even there are different institutions in London for various courses of academics called schools; like, Business School of London, London School of Economics and Political Science, London School of Law etc. They offer different types of Certificate and Diploma courses, following their own rule and regulation. Some University granted institutions can also offer degree courses, and research facilities on specific fields of expertise. Related Topics: Higher Education in London Students’ Life in London
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