• two types of schools:

  PUBLIC ( without charge) / PRIVATE (must pay for)

• financed: federaly founded/ state founded/ tuition

1)KINDERGARDEN

• ^{between the age 5-6, may attend pre-school ( parents have to pay)}

^{2)ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:}

• ^{between the age 6-11, compulsory education, for 5 years, essential subjects-> english, math, science n history}

• ^{graded on system of A-F}

^{3)MIDDLE/JUNIOR SCHOOL:}

• ^{between the age 11-13, from 6th to 9th grade}

^{4)HIGH SCHOOL:}

• ^{between the age 14 to 18}

• ^{1. year- freshman, 2. year- sophmore, 3. year- junior, 4. year- seniors.}

• ^{forms of tests: quizzes, essays and other projects.}

• ^{graduation ceremony: students are dressed in long gowns in the colour of their schools, recieve their diplomas and toss their funny flat hats in the air (= mortarboards)}

• ^{prom- dance at the end of every school year}

• ^{afterschool activities: school newspaper, drama, spanish class, sports: track and field, american football, baseball}

^{if you want to attend university: SAT, ACT- depends on the states that you are curentlly studyiing in}

^{5)UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE:}

• ^{19 and higher}

• ^{still reqire tuition, for example-> Yale, Harvard, state universities}

• ^{you can achieve Bachelor´s (4 years) and then Master´s degree}

• ^{( 2 years, if you like studying- PhD or doctorate)}

⁃  Compulsory school attendance 6-15

Levels of education

1. kindergarten 3-5

3-4 voluntary, last year of kindergarten is mandatory

Learning motoric skills, communication,  socialize

2. first+second grade of elementary school

-first grade of e.s.

-from the age of 6-11

-financed by the state

-mandatory attendance

-you learn how to read, write, count, some basics in the natural sciences, speak a little bit of English

-you learn social skills and how to work in a collective

-continuous tests from every topic trough-out the year

-10 months attendance, 2 months summer break

-the year is split into two midterms, you get your overall results in each subject at then end of each midterm, sometimes there are also bigger test to summarise the information from the midterm

-second grade of e.s.

-from the age of 11-15

-financed by the state if its not a private school then you have to pay to attend

-mandatory attendance

-you continue to develop the skills from the first grade of e.s.

-you start to learn a third language- mostly german, french, Spanish, Russian

-there are added some other additional subjects such as chemistry and physics

-testing system is same as in first grade of e.s

-you learn to be more independent and responsible

-you finish your mandatory school attendance

-then you can choose to voluntary continue in your education

time management:

-every day you start your lessons around 8 o’clock

-you have 45 minutes lectures and breaks between them

-you have assorted schedule that changes every year

3. High school

⁃             15 - 19

⁃             Entrance exam - Czech language  and mathematics (Cermat - same for all schools)

⁃             Voluntary

Types of high schools

⁃             Grammar school

·       Isn't focused on one subject but rather on general knowledge​

·       We can choose our focus later on via seminars​

·       Prepares us for universitites

·       8/6/4 year study course,

⁃             Specialized school/secondary technical school

·       Trains students for various branches: chemistry, agriculture, art school

·       4 years, with graduation

⁃             Apprentice/ secondary vocational school

·      3/ 4 years, with/ without graduation

·      Trains apprentices: future bakers, plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, hairdressers, etc.

⁃             Private school

⁃             Conservatory

·      Singing, dancing, playing instrument

School-leaving exam (maturita)

-              Obligatory – Czech and either math or English

-              Grammar school – you can choose what you want to graduate from

-              Secondary technical school – every school is choosing their own graduation subject

children 3-4

- private, state-funded, forest school (outdoor-based learning)

OR PLAYGROUP

- run by community groups

offering part-time sessions

PRIMARY SCHOOL

- children 5-11

usually quite small and local

types: STATE-FUNDED - funded by government and free for all children, have to follow a prescribed national currriculum

PRIVATE SCHOOLS - parents pay fee, high academic standarts, pupils do not have to follow the national curriculum

SPECIAL SCHOOLS - cater to children with special educational needs anddisabilities

95%

- primary school is divided in two cycles:

INFANT SCHOOLS (4-7) - children acquire basic skills like writing, reading and maths

JUNIOR SCHOOLS (7-11) - more complex subjects (history, geography and science)

SECONDARY SCHOOL

children 11

pupils have to follow the national curriculum, including a foreign language and a broader range of subjects, taught by different teachers

can be large (2-3 thousand students)

students start GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education) at age 14 choosing nine subjects

1 of 4

GCSE exams are taken at 16, after which students can either leave school, takean apprenticeship (učňovský obor), vocational training (odborný výcvik) or continue studying for A-Levels (equivalent of maturita) - pupils pick 4 or 5 subjects they want to study and normally drop one after one year

APPRENTICESHIPS

- young people learn a trade as hey work

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

- pupils go to school and take exams in practical subjects such as mechanics or painting and decorating

SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

sixth form of secondary school wehre people study towards their A-levels

o Age of 16

o For 2 years

o 4 subjects in the first year => ends in exams

A-level (Advanced GCSES)

If they don't want it they can také apprenticeships (young people learn a trade as they work)

Vocational courses => practical (e.g. Mechanics)

UNIVERSITIES

during the last year of school, university applications are sent out

- its usual to study away from home and students apply to a maximum of six universities

its quite competitive and you won't necessarily get into your first choice

going to university is expensive but you can get financial help, most students take out a student loan from the government

- offers bachelor's degrees for 3 or 4 years, after receiving their degree, a person is a graduate and can pursue a master's degree in science or arts

- universities are subsidised by the government, but they charge tuition fees (školné)