Today we went to Birmingham City University for the first time. It was really exciting to see the school that we will be spending a lot of time at for the next few weeks. Throughout the day, after hearing several lectures and talking to students, we learned that there are several differences between the curriculum for school in the United States and the United Kingdom. I left today excited to go back and learn more!
The first thing that we did today was walk around the building and see what was available to the students. Although the building was very similar to Victoria and what the University of Pittsburgh offers, there were definitely some differences. For example, BCU also had a very nice library as well as several skills labs like Pitt offers. We were able to see some simulation rooms and they were clearly set aside for learning. Something that was interesting was the room that was set aside for first aid that the BCU students needed to be tested on every year. Something else that was different was the food system. At BCU, they do not have meal plans like we do, but instead everything is marked down in price so it is easier for students to pay for it. Everything was mostly marked down by 50 percent of their original price. They had several little bakeries and little shops for food, which I thought was nice that they had several options for the students. When we had our lectures, learning about the Student Union was very interesting as well because it showed what else was offered to the students at BCU. Just like at the University of Pittsburgh, students are able to join clubs and societies whether they be educational, societal, cultural, or anything else. However, it is different at BCU because the students are automatically in the student union and they also vote for their leaders. It is a democracy and the students choose who they want to lead these activities and who they want to be their supporters. In conclusion, there is a lot in common with the BCU students, but there are still some differences.
Facts About BCU
BCU is a very exciting school and is very different in the layout that the University of Pittsburgh has. For example, when one goes into nursing school, they decide what area of the field they want to go in before they even start. Also, after talking to a student, we learned that they do not have basic classes like us and instead go straight into clinical. In fact, they do half in the classroom and half in clinicals immediately. It is a very rigorous program especially because it is only three years long. Because the program is only three years long, there is no time wasted and they barely have any breaks. However, in some ways it is good to not have any breaks because nurses are in demand and the sooner they finish school, the sooner they can work. Also, at BCU these past years there have been more men in nursing and more diversity. BCU is similar to Pitt in the fact that we will all graduate with a great education, but the process of getting there is different.
Primary Education In The United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, there are several levels of education. The first major part of the education system is primary education. Primary education comes after early years, which is until the child is five. Going into primary education, the student will have already learned basic stages of growth and development and will have completed specific qualifications. Primary education is supposed to be a little bit more challenging and the classes that the kids are required to take are three core classes, which are math, science, and english. The students can also start choosing their classes as they get older and have some electives. There are several different people in the education setting that help the students get the most out of their time when learning. Something helpful that the United Kingdom also does is have one on one sessions for students with learning disabilities or for mental health purposes. This was very interesting because these kids went through a lot when it came to the COVID pandemic. There are several different programs to help these little kids out with their education and after everything that has happened after the pandemic. Something else that is similar to the United States is the OFSTED’S where head teachers are inspected for their job and are instead given help to improve their classroom. Although it is still stressful, the inspectors want to help the schools.
Secondary Education In The United Kingdom
Secondary Education is the next step in education in the United Kingdom. With secondary education, the programs start to become more rigorous and more tests are taken. These tests include the GCSE’s and A-levels. These help the students get into University. However, once you are 16, you decide if you want to keep going with your education. Something different when it comes to the teachers is that they only focus on one subject.
In conclusion, today was very interesting and I could never have pictured how different the UK education system is to the United States. One thing I learned is that there are definitely pros and cons to both countrys’ systems. Despite this, it does seem that the UK does care for their students and teachers well beings a lot.
