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Children in the Great Britain start their education at the age of 4 (Reception Class), so they study up to Year 13. After Year 11 (Grade 9 in Russia) kids pass GCSE exams (General Certification of Secondary Education).

GCSE is a certificate that proves your successful graduation from the middle school. Starting at this point one can continue in Hight School or choose to start working. Moreover, good GCSE is rather crucial for University enrolment since the call for papers starts before final A-levels exams. Also, it’s a great preparation for the high school (Six Form, which is 10th and 11th grades in Russia or age of 16-18).

Two last years of school are devoted to the A-levels preparation. Students choose 4 or 3 subjects to master that they need for the university enrolment. System of grades is from A* (the highest) to E. Also, some of the universities accept AS Exams which are equivalent to one year of A-levels. In case foreign enrollee doesn’t gave A-levels they have to cover Foundation course before entering the university.

In case you want to apply to any university in Great Britain you must upload your documents onto UCAS system – Universities and Colleges Admissions System. It’s allowed to enroll only to 5 universities and upload only 1 motivational letter, so before applying a person should know what is his major since it’s impossible to have motivational letter for different subjects at the same time.

In case a student already knows which university he wishes to go but doesn’t know which faculty to choose there is an option to pass A-levels for preferred subjects which are posted on the website of educational organization. That might give you some extra time to decide.

On top of that UCAS helps to find an appropriate student as well based on the profiles of universities and colleges.

So what universities can you choose?

World famous Oxford and Cambridge share the first place. But you cannot enroll at both at the same time. According to the international ratings Oxford is a little bit higher and it’s harder to get there than to Cambridge. Successful enrollment to Oxford is about 17%, while it’s around 24% for Cambridge according to the 2019 survey.

Oxford University is a place that needs no introduction. This place is covered with history and unusual atmosphere could be sensed in every building. No wonder many famous Harry Potter panoramas were shot in here.

Oxford consists of 38 colleges and each of them uses multidisciplinary approach, so a student of one academic department can attend lectures from another. All of them are structured in big four groups: humanities, social studies, natural and exact science and math.

Cambridge University consists of 31 colleges (the most renown Trinity College, St. John’s College). Cambridge is one of the most conservative Universities (students cannot enter some cafes without uniform: mantel and corner cap). Cambridge has given 88 Nobel prize winners to the world.

At the same time Great Britain is rich with other wonderful universities.

King’s College of London (KCL or King’s) is one of the oldest universities which was established in 1829. It provides wide variety of schools and fields of study. The most popular is St. Thomas College. Second by popularity is School of Law and School of History. Among famous graduates are Virginia Woolf, Somerset Maugham, a variety of politicians and scientists (12 Nobel prize winners, that took a huge part in DNA reveal, Higgs boson and etc.).

London School of Economics (LSE) has rather narrowed filed od study as it follows from its name. It was established by leaders of Fabian movement as an opposition to the imperium views. The strongest department is for political studies and public administration (these departments are the strongest in Europe). Moreover, programs for public relations, development economics and business governing are outstanding as well. LSE is in possession of the vastest library for humanities in all European languages. Among famous graduates are J.F. Kennedy, Friedrich Hayek, David Rockefeller, Mick Jagger and others.

University College of London (UCL) grew out of chemistry department and couple of foreign languages department. As of today UCL provides one of the most profound education in precise sciences.

King’s College, London School of Economics and University College of London create together with Oxford and Cambridge a “Golden Triangle” of the British education.

The UK offers high-end education not only in sciences but in creative sphere as well.

All of those universities are included into Russell Group (24 leading universities of the UK) famous as Ivy League is the USA. To find information and compare universities of Great Britain one can visit discoveruni.gov.uk.

If you are not too excited about weather in the Albion, a lot of other options are opened before you. Many countries such as Spain, Germany, Singapore, Egypt, Canada, Australia, New Zealand accept A-levels. A potential student should keep in mind that usually math A-levels is obligatory in these countries regardless of the field of study. There are more than 80 universities in USA that accept A-levels, but with different credit score, in some of them you will have to pass additional exams.

So, as you may see if a applicant has A-levels boarders vanish as if by a magic wand command. Applicantus!

2. Secondly, English language holds a title of international language for rather long time. In case a person is fluent he will feel comfortable all around the world. Besides career perspectives get new angels and not only abroad but in Russia as well. Many big corporates have their subsidiaries here.

3. Thirdly, British school gives an opportunity to get to know different culture and behavioral environment. This allows a person to be open, feel less stress and widen social circle.

4. British education opens doors of many foreign Universities. A student can save one year and doesn’t have to master Foundation Year that is necessary to have for foreign students. And not only England accepts those exams but also many world Universities.

6. When a child approaches high school (10th and 11th grades according to Russian system and Year 12 and Year 13 in British system) he devotes all of his time to 3 or 4 main subjects needed for university enrollment. They spend their time on things that are truly important.

7. British schools as well as Universities it’s not only education but future social circle as well. Rather often people educated at one place have a lot in common as open view at the world, possibility to work in teams, and forms future professional environment.

8. Of special note is continuity of the education. National Curriculum for England has common standards worldwide and starts at 4 years age. If school is licensed to test for A-levels exams you can be sure of high level of education. Moreover, in times of high international mobility if you move somewhere you can be sure that your child will be comfortable in a foreign school.

9. British schools pay great attention to practical and solo work. Many lessons are held in a form of dialogue and active work with students. The latter receive presentation skills, well-founded discussion and skill to prove one’s point of view. Special role is given to the information search. During the technology era it’s crucial to know how to find credible information sources.

No matter which school you choose it is always important to talk and hear your child’s needs. School is a place for new knowledge and curiosity but not for rote learning and boring lectures.

It’s undoubtful that ability of a teacher to know how to get his audience interested in the subject is one of the main conditions of successful education. Modern kids live in the times of a very intense content. So, a mentor will hardly manage to keep attention of his students without games, unexpected tasks or solving problems that are close to the real life (figure out interest rate for your loan, invest in Tesla papers or find out blood type of your brother).

It’s important for the sake of education to have a dialog and pose native questions. Information in a form of lecture will fall into the dark depth of memory approximately after 10 minutes. At the same time questions, analogies, suggested by the students will help to create secure neuro net of knowledge that could be easily retracted. Moreover, a feeling of engagement and some control over the lesson course will bring incredible motivation for the students.

Knowledge is always renewed during career time in any field. There are always new technologies, approaches, ideas and research. A biology teacher is more credible if he uses new discoveries in his work. Foreign languages knowledge is rather crucial for this case. It opens access to the world research community. Participation in conferences on regular basis gives constant update to teacher’s techniques of information delivery and interaction with students.

There is a stereotype of a teacher whose lessons are visited by most students because he is strict. At the same time level of engagement and interest during the lesson is low since a teacher is distant and doesn’t pay much attention to the communication with the children. In case pupils see that teacher can acknowledge his mistakes and can laugh at bizarre situations they are more likely to ask questions during the lesson and be open. Let’s not forget about burnout at work. An experienced teacher will note the first signs of it and prevent. He will be able to come back to the class with fresh ideas and positive attitude.

In times of conflict a teacher shouldn’t shy away from being a facilitator between kids. Despite open approach a teacher still preserves certain level of authority being an adult in the room. A person shouldn’t rely resolving of these questions solely onto psychologist since a teacher is basically in forefront of the conflict and can stop developing of the tension or give a clear picture to the psychologist if needed.