The education systems differ depending on different countries’ cultures, priorities and values. This essay points out the differences between the education systems in the United Kingdom and the United States. Despite having shared similarities in the funding structures, the two methods differ in evaluating and measuring students’ progression and academic performance. While both nations are dedicated to providing accessible education and have similar funding structures, there are differences in how they measure student performance, evaluate performances, and shape the general educational experience. This exploration gives a deeper understanding of what contributes to the educational landscapes between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Funding Structures
The United Kingdom and the United States have a standard institutional funding system. In both countries, public schools are funded by the government and are free for eligible students. The United Kingdom state schools are supported by the government, which mirrors the public schools in the United States since they are also funded by the government (The British Education System, 2020). In addition, both counties also offer private schools, which the student’s families fund. Private schools do not have to follow the national curriculum in the United Kingdom. Still, occasionally, they undergo inspection to ensure that they deliver the right kind of information. The funding structure gives an apparent similarity between the two education systems.
Measuring Student Progression
One notable difference between the United States and the United Kingdom is how they measure students’ progress throughout their education journey. In the United States, students begin their education with kindergarten, which is different from the United Kingdom, where schooling begins at the first critical stage. Despite the difference in when to start, both systems have a thirteen-year education span before the students proceed to the university and colleges. The difference in measurement of progression shows each country’s distinct approaches when it comes to the structure.
Evaluation and Grading System
The evaluation and grading systems for both countries diverge significantly. In the United States, students typically receive letter grades reflecting their performance on assignments and tests. In the United Kingdom, students get assigned numerical scores on a scale of one to seven depending on how well they understand the course material. Moreover, the assessment methods are different since the United Kingdom relies on comprehensive exams during the end of each key stage four. At the same time, the United States incorporates a series of tests within an academic year (Lochtie, 2018). The grading systems in both countries are different, but they have valid approaches to validating students’ academic achievements.
Cultural Influences in Education
Cultural influences highly influence the education system in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The United States focuses on promoting individualism and creativity within the educational environment. This is highly evident in how extracurricular activities are encouraged and the holistic approach to developing the students. On the contrary, high emphasis is given to academic performance in the United Kingdom (Machin & Vignoles, 2006). The national curriculum enhances this by placing a solid emphasis on academic achievement by outlining specific subject requirements. The cultural practices embedded in these approaches significantly contribute to the characteristics of the education system in each country.
Inclusivity and Special Education
While considering inclusivity in the education system, there are differences exhibited by both the United States and the United Kingdom. The United States’s legal framework caters to everyone, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This mandates that students who have disabilities get access to free education. This is further reflected while integrating special education students into mainstream classes. On the other hand, the United Kingdom follows a model where students with special needs may attend mainstream schools. However, several special schools are also dedicated to students with special needs (Machin & Vignoles, 2006). This difference in approach is a demonstration of diverse ways in which countries address the different educational needs of students with disabilities
In conclusion, the education systems in both the United Kingdom and the United States share similarities in how they approach funding but differ in how they evaluate academic performance, cultural influences, inclusivity, and special education and measure student progression. Both nations prioritize education as a fundamental right for every student by ensuring that public schools are available to students from every social class. Even though the evaluation and grading system in each country vary in each country, all take a positive shape in their education system. In the process of exploring global education, it is essential to understand and make an improvement in educational practices.
References
Machin, S., & Vignoles, A. (2006). Education Policy in the UK (No. 57). Centre for the Economics of Education, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Lochtie, D. J. (2018). A ‘special relationship higher education? What influence might the US higher education sector have on support for international students in the UK? In Perspectives on the Internationalisation of Higher Education (pp. 94-101). Routledge.
“The British Education System.” HMC, 2020, www.hmc.org.uk/about-hmc/projects/the-British-Education-system/.
write