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It’s eight o’clock on a Monday morning; you rush to your first class of the day, as being late is not a part of your agenda nor accepted by the teacher. You reach the classroom, slide into one of the blue plastic chairs and wave to your friends sitting next to you. The teacher walks into the classroom and silence quickly arises as you and your classmates sit quietly and wait for the teacher to begin the lesson. On the other side of the world, students in Britain are experiencing a high school education a bit differently.
Students pile into their classrooms, but do not take their seats yet as they have to wait for their teacher to arrive. Their school days start at 8:45 and finish at 3:10, which is similar to the American system. Their school lessons as quite intense as testing is a core part of the British system. School is one of the most vital parts of our daily routines.
The average school day in the US is about six and a half hours, which makes the total number of hours for one entire year to be about one thousand and one hundred seventy hours.
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The average private school in the United States costs about fourteen thousand dollars annually. Education is essentially quite important as it sets up the basis of interests which will lead most of us to college and then a career. However with the increase in the price of private high schools it makes me wonder whether schools around the world which have a fraction of the price it costs to attend a private school in California are as successful.
When comparing the cost of private high schools in similar areas, it is clear that cost does not correlate directly to a higher quality of education. Although the systems are quite different, the outcome of the education (knowledge and skills for application) are similar/relatively the same. The costs are completely different as the American private high school education can cost up to 40,000 dollars in California while British schools in London can be about 15,000 pounds or 21,000 dollars.
However, about 91% of students graduate High School in UK and only about 77% of students graduate High School in US (Organization of Economic Co-operations and Development). My interest in education has become very apparent in many aspects of my life as I think education is a very essential part of my life because I hope to set myself up for a lot of success in the future. The difference between each of the education systems has always been enticing to me as I think that the systems being completely different, but still having the same end result shows that there can be many effective approaches to a successful education system. I started wondering: Does a higher cost actually affect education? What are the main differences and similarities? and Is the depth in curriculum same? To find the answers to these questions I decided to read many articles about the different systems and the way it works and first hand testimonials of students who have experienced both types of education. To even further my knowledge I wanted to interview students who have actually experienced both systems.
I first got in contact with Audrey Andel, an eighth grade student who attended both a British school and now attends an American school. I also wanted to interview someone who experienced the high school education specifically. I read an article about Andrew Maynard, who has a daughter who attend a US high school up until senior year and then switched to the British sixth form. However, I was not able to get an interview directly with Andrew Maynard’s daughter, so I did not get a full depth testimony of her exact experience, however I still got some useful information from Andrew. My goal of this I-search is to not form an opinion on what education system is better as I cannot speak for every student, but to share my knowledge about both education systems to inform that cost does not always equal better. All in all, after conducting extensive research I was able to come to a conclusion. When comparing California and London’s private high school educations systems, it is clear that a higher cost does not ensure a higher quality of education as it is seen in the equal depth of curriculum and how each system works.
First off, the comparison between both school systems is a very hard one as the cost of the school does not directly correlate to the same worth. What I mean by this is that incomes in America are quite different than incomes in London, as an average American in Oakland has a median family income of about $60,472 (Wikipedia) and in London the average median family income is about £39,100 or about $54,000 (Piggott). Also, it is important to note that what you put into the school is more or less what you get out of it, meaning that I am assessing the quality of each school systems from a perspective of a student that wants to succeed. With that said, it is still important to make this comparison between both systems as it is necessary to identify each systems’ differences and similarities to assess the quality of each school system.
To establish a base of comparison, it is important to know how each high school system functions. The British equivalent to American high schools is called secondary school and includes two key stages. Key stages are similar to the grade division for American elementary, middle, and high schools. Secondary school in Britain is from years seven through thirteen and specifically Key Stage 4 is the equivalent to the American high school. In this stage, year ten is freshman year, year eleven, sophomore, and years twelve and thirteen include sixth form which is a class to prepare for university. A key component of British education is that students start and end secondary school a lot younger than most American schools. Students enter secondary school when they are eleven years old and graduate when sixteen. In secondary schools students from ages eleven to fourteen learn a wide range of subjects, including music, math, science, english, and etc. However when students reach the age of fourteen, they start to enter their GCSE stage, which is a two year process. The GCSEs are sets of exams, however I will explain this concept more in depth later on (International Student).
On the contrast, the American high school includes four years each getting progressively harder. The first year for students is called freshman year, the second sophomore, the third junior, and the last senior year. Similarly to the British education system, students learn a broad range of subjects throughout the years such as math, science, english, history, language, and an elective of choice (Corsi-Bunker). Knowing how different the systems are, it shows that there are many ways that a student can learn and they are able to be successful in different types of learning environments, as both students in the American and British systems are able to thrive and get a lot of the school. Again since British system is able to function well, shows that a higher cost is not always better. Since there is a wide range of private schools, it is also important to define what classifies as a private school as there are many factors that go into the schools making it private such as it’s funding and curriculum. First off, for all private schools in America, the PK-12 Enrollment which was taken in 2013-14 has 5,396,000 students, which is 10% of all US students. The number of private schools in America, which data was also taken in 2013-14 concluded that there are 33,619 private schools which is 25% of all US schools (Council for American Private Education).
However, specifically in California there are 203 private schools, and the total enrollment in these private schools total 82, 794 (NAIS DASL). In the UK, there are about 2,600 independent schools, but the majority are junior schools. There are over 620,000 children are enrolled in these schools which is about 7% of all students (Guide to Independent Schools). These statistics show that a clear minority is only able to attend this elite private schools, which makes it even more necessary to address whether a higher cost is actually worth it. The definition of a private school is any school that is privately funded or a non state school.Specifically in UK, an independent school charges fees rather than receiving funds from government which means that the schools don’t have to follow national curriculum However, the schools have to be registered with government and are inspected on a regular basis (Relocate Global). Similarly, American private schools registration is mandatory but accreditation is optional (Department of American Education.
Accreditation authenticates a school’s credentials by making sure the school follows certain criteria (Learn.org). Since private schools can follow their own curriculum, they are significantly more expensive. Private schools in California are equivalent to the independent schools in London as they both are privately funded. Since American attend high school longer, the tuition is higher and can be up to $40,000. The price of British secondary education can be up to £15,500 per year or about $21,000 (BBC). As I already stated, private schools do not receive any funds from the government and therefore don’t have to follow the national curriculum, allowing the schools to participate in many interesting programs. The UK school curriculum has to follow a set of rules that include promoting the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society. It also must prepare students at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. Therefore British state/public schools are legally required to follow the statutory national curriculum. The national curriculum explains programmes of study, basis of key stages and subject content for those subjects that should be taught to all students. Also, all state schools must publish their school curriculum by subject and academic year online (Department of Education, page 4). Moreover, the national curriculum provides knowledge on how to be educated citizens and an outline of core knowledge that teachers can then change and form the information in different lessons and classes (Department of Education, page 5).
In British independent schools the UK government establishes the national curriculum and although the independent schools are not obligated to follow it, the schools often do and add extra subjects (Just Landed). For example, students in most independent schools learn at a wide range of subjects, which the subject's levels advance when students get further in secondary school. Students take the basic courses such as english, fine arts, applied arts, science, foreign language, math, social studies, health, physical education and life skills. Within each course students have to opportunity to take different courses. For example for the class English, courses offered include Medieval, World, or Modern Literature. For Fine arts, drawing, painting, or pottery are available. For applied arts, photography, metal works, or auto mechanics are offered (Choices4Learning). Also during Year 9, students are required to start choosing their specific subjects they want to study for their GCSE’s exams (BBC). The school curriculum for private US high schools are set up by the individual school charter but, generally include health and safety measures to protect students. However, private schools are allowed to participate in special programs such as the arts and athletics. Private schools usually have accommodations for students how need more academic guidance or help with study skills (Turner).
The school curriculum specifically for public schools in California include the Compulsory California Law, which the school must abide to and requires each person between age of six and eighteen to attend full time day school and requires parents to send them unless legally exempt (California Department of Education). The curriculum commonly taught in private schools in America is similar the flexible UK curriculum. Students are required to take most common subjects for four years. For english class, specific subjects offered are literature, writing or composition, or speech. However, for math some schools require math to be only taken for three years and the specific subjects taught include algebra one and two, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and statistics. For science, the curriculum is mostly taught by hands on activities such as labs and the subjects taught include biology, chemistry and physics. For social studies, the main classes offered include, US history, US government, economics, world history, and geography. Finally, students take a foreign language and an elective of choice (Witmer). The curriculum for both schools is pretty much the same, showing that again the British education system can meet the same standards as the American system provides for the students. Also, the British education curriculum seems to prioritize shaping the students into good human beings which is not commonly enforced in American systems.
As stated before, Private schools do not have constricting rules and therefore can offer many beneficial things towards students such as small class sizes and a wide ranges of extracurriculars. Other than the flexible curriculum, private schools differ than other schools because of the smaller class size and more one on one attention. Specifically for British school system, the academic year runs from September 1st to August 31st. The school year is divided into three terms with longer school holidays between each term. In total there are 39 weeks of schooling (Education system in England). On the contrast, the American school year is a bit shorter as students start school in late August and end in the first week of June (Guide to the Education System in the US).The tests for each schooling system are completely different, yet both tests seem to prepare students well for a higher education after high school such as college or university. Only students with high school diplomas can enroll in college. During high school students are given grades for all their courses and at end of 12th grade, the student’s grades are averaged out to create a GPA (grade point average). The GPA big determination for acceptance in college and also students in 12th grade also take SATs or ACTs. These tests are used as second principle for college admittance. The SAT is a standardized test and claims the test determines whether you are ready for college or not. The ACT assesses high school students’ general education skills and knowledge and ability to complete college level work.
However these exams are very different than final exams in other countries, for example in the UK the main test is called A levels. This test tends to be a lot more demanding (Corsi-Bunker). As mentioned before in Key Stage 4 students prepare for the GSCEs. Many secondary schools provide children with opportunity to remain at school for two more years to study for A-Levels or International Baccalaureate (IB). The GSCEs are the main school leaving qualification in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The AS and A levels are studied in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.The AS levels take one year to complete and the A levels studied for two years. To study these tests students are required to have studied chosen subjects (Lorsch). Testing is an essential part of education and it supposedly assesses the student’s grasp of the material. Also, the tests decide how ready the student is ready for a higher education after college. To get the best opinion out of what each system is like, it is important to get students and people’s opinions who have actually experienced both school systems. I first interviewed Andrew Maynard, he has a daughter who left her senior year of high school in US and went to UK to study for A levels. Both him and his daughter believed that the US high school education was not good enough to prepare her for British University. Specifically Andrew had been worried about US approach to science education. Andrew also attended school in the UK and studied physics, chem, bio from the age of 13. When we talked he believed that the US system is good if you want to go to college in US but not if you want to go anywhere else. His daughter completed sixth form in UK but didn’t end up going to a British university and went to college on West Coast.
When moving back to US her A levels counted for almost a year of credits and allowed her to graduate in three years instead of four. His daughter also believed that in the UK she was treated as more of an adult. Sixth form is “like a step between highschool and college here. In the UK you first of all do your GCSEs which you finish usually when you are about 16 years old and then you decide whether you are going to go on to do these A-levels in the sixth form. In the Sixth form they [the teachers] treat you far more like a college student. So you have the classes you do and you usually only study 3 or 4 different topics for two years,” (Maynard). Next I interview a student named Andrey Andel, she is currently an eighth grade student at Head Royce who moved to California after living in London for four years. In London she attended a independent, all girls, and traditional British elementary school in Richmond. Having experienced British education firsthand and now attends an American school she is quite knowledgeable in the differences between British and American private education. When asked what system she prefered, she stated that she enjoyed the american system more as “it is better for all round education and becoming a better person”. Moreover, she said “there is more freedom and a lot more emotional learning [in the American system]. We have life skills and classes like that [in Head Royce].”(Andel).
Although both Audrey and Andrew valued the American education system more as it teaches a more rounder education, they both said that the British system has some stronger parts as well. All in all, there is not a better system as education is unique for every student as individuals but it is important to assess the schools based on cost as well. Both systems value learning and the students and success for the students but do this in different and unique ways. Each system has it’s positive and negative elements as More people in the UK graduate from secondary school than in America (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. However, the quality and depthness of British secondary schools is very good (Cornell University study). Th Pearson Education ranks the UK sixth and the US 14th in terms of educational attainment. (Himelfarb) The point of this paper is not to say which system is better but to assess the value of the systems by basing it on price and what you are able to get out of each school. However, from the pros and cons it is British systems seems both meet the high standards of curriculum and at a more reasonable price. Finally, a higher cost of a education does not equal a better quality education as seen through the extensive depth given in the British curriculum and the equal opportunities students are able to receive from the British education system.
There are clear benefits of the British education which include the UK’s high ranking of 6th in Pearson’s Learning Curve study while the US ranks 17th. The UK system has a shorter summer which gives students less time to forget the material learned. The UK also offers Form Tutors which is a person assigned to all students in one grade (similar to an advisor) and they monitor progress, apply discipline, deliver news and can answer questions for parents. The Form Tutors are similar to advisors in the American system because they can help with student’s growth and become a trusted person for them (Goss) There are also clear negative aspects of the US education system. Students are required to take all core classes (Math, Science, English, History) throughout their entire high school years which can include lots of repetition. Also students do not have as much as independence, as in high school students do not get to pick their specific subjects they are interested in majoring in in college. Allowing students to pick specific subjects they are interested in would prevent students using college time and money figuring out that to major in. The 6th form in UK allows students to actually experience college for two years but in the US 13 year olds find their way around highschool and “prepare” for college by taking AP classes (Lorsch).
After assessing all of the evidence and first hand experiences, even though the American education system costs more it is evident that the UK system can be just as well and even better. Both systems are very different in terms of the age students start and finish, students both end up with the same end result: success and preparation for higher education. However, what you put into the education you will most likely get out of it. This topic is important as cost of education is a huge price and education is very important to become successful in the world, so it is important to assess these education systems to see whether the higher cost is worth it. All in all, the difference in education systems shows that students are able to adapt and succeed in different environments.
Difference Between American and UK Education System. (2022, Apr 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/difference-between-american-and-uk-education-system-essay
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