Education in Great Nortend

Education in Great Nortend

Board of Education
Master of the Board of Education	Dr. Thomas Welfuller Henry Gust
General details
Primary languages	English
System type	National
Literacy (2016)
Total	99%
Attainment
Secondary diploma	63%
Post-secondary diploma	3%

Education in Great Nortend is overseen by the Board of Education, a ministerial level board subordinate to H. M. Clerk's Office. It is highly structured and centrally administered. An approved national curriculum is published by the Board which outlines the required content of education.

Overview

The Schooling Act prescribe the five stages of formal schooling, being infant (3–6), junior (7–10), middle (11–14) and senior (15–18) school, in addition to tertiary education. Compulsory education in Great Nortend lasts for eight years and starts at the age of seven for both boys and girls in junior schooling, ending at the age of 14 at the end of the middle schooling.

Public state schooling is administered directly by the Board of Education and consists of both junior parish schools as well as senior high schools, the former of which combining infant and junior schooling and the latter of which middle and senior schooling. Private independent schooling is provided principally by endowed schools, as well as tutors for junior schooling, although both are still regulated by the Board of Education. Universities, apprenticeships, clerkships and cadetships provide formalised tertiary after senior years.

At the end of the Fifth Form, many pupils undertake the Grammatical Examinations as the ordinary school-leaving examinations. Pupils who wish to continue onto university must be in a grammar school and continue for another two years before undertaking the Matriculation Examinations at the end of the Sixth Form. In addition to their annual school reports, receive a Top Junior Report, Fourth Form Report, Fifth Form Report and Sixth Form Report upon the completion of the respective grades and examinations.

The very limited number of students matriculating at a university generally study for a Bachelor of Arts. The Bachelor of Arts is the foundation degree, and may be followed by another bachelor degree and then finally by a doctorate.

Academic year

The academic year used by schools and colleges corresponds to the civil year used in Great Nortend. To wit, the year begins on Michaelmas and there are three academic terms, divided by holidays. Though there are four terms in a civil year, the academic year generally treats Marymas term as a summer holiday or 'Long Vacation'.

State schools

Mooping New School, the main senior high school for boys in Mooping.

State schools are known as board schools, or as parish schools (infants and junior) and high schools (middle and senior). They are regulated by the Board of Education under the terms of the Schooling Acts of 1902 and 1945. They are free of charge to attend, being funded by the Treasury. Parish schools are often located adjacent to the parish church, and there is usually one in every parish. High schools generally serve the local borough or market town, and are single sex. Thus, there is normally a a boys' "Smitton High School" and a girls' "Smitton Girls' High School".

State high schools as a rule only offer schooling until the Fifth Form. They do not offer Sixth Form education and as such, high school pupils are unable to matriculate at university unless they transfer to an independent school for their Sixth Form, which is quite uncommon. Most pupils intending to matriculate move to independent schools at the end of their junior schooling.

Board schools are bound by the ordinances of the Board of Education. In the case of a parish school, ordinances give powers to the local authority (whether it be the parish vestry or borough council) which may control the appointment of the headmaster, admissions and finances inter alia. For high schools, a governing body is appointed by the Board, which includes members of the local authorities, local dignitaries, and other personages, as well as official visitors. Otherwise, like most independent schools, they are operated on a day-to-day basis by the headmaster and usher, who generally have a high degree of freedom.

Independent schools

The independent schools are schools which not operated as part of the state system, and are not established under the Schooling Acts of the 20th century. Many are many centuries old. The term 'independent school' includes a wide range of schools such as cathedral, monastic, common and charity schools. Both junior and senior independent schools exist, although not all fit neatly into the Schooling Act stage categorisation. Many aristocratic families, for instance, still choose to educate their girls during their junior schooling at home under a tutor or governess.

Most independent senior schools are considered grammar schools, insofar as they teach up to the Sixth Form in preparation for matriculation at university. Poorer pupils who would not otherwise be able to matriculate may win Senior Bursaries from the Board of Education to enable them to transfer to an independent grammar school. Most schools are additionally endowed for the education of a specified number of poorer pupils on foundation, often known as scholars.

Though such schools are termed independent, they are still bound by the ordinances of the Board of Education which are explicitly extended to independent schools. Furthermore, some schools were and are founded by the Crown, which retains powers of direction over them, usually via the Board of Education. As they are not, however, board schools under the Schooling Act, they are nonetheless considered independent schools.

Curriculum

Pupils are instructed principally in English, mathematics, Latin, history, religion, drill, science, arts and civics.

English

English education is wide-ranging and covers reading, writing and speaking.

Mathematics

Mathematics covers arithmetic, geometry and other basic concepts, including use of an abacus.

Latin

Latin is a principal subject in senior school. This starts with memorisation of grammar and vocabulary, then turning to translation of texts and construction of Latin prose and poetry, including a range of classical texts by Virgil, Caesar, Catullus, Cicero, Ovid, Horace, Livy &c.. Skills in Latin construction, translation and synthesis are developed, both written and oral.

Religion

In junior schooling, religious instruction focusses on the Catechism of the Church of Nortend including instruction in the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, the Creeds and the Liturgy. There is also study of Holy Scripture, focussing on chapters in the Books of Genesis, Exodus, the Psalms, the Gospels and the Epistles. In senior school, there is a continued analysis of scripture, as well as the history of the Church, theological topics such as that of the basis for doctrines and dogma. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are read through completely.

Drill

Drill classes include gymnastics and other exercises.

Drill, or physical education, involves both structured games and sports as well as gymnastics, boxing, running and physical training.

Arts

Art includes music, drawing, painting and other crafts.

Civics

Civics education is embedded through the curriculum of other classes, and includes the teaching of manners, patriotic songs and morals.

Equalisation

Equalisation is the process where a pupil's final subject grades are altered from their nominal numerical value. This involves consideration of the pupil's social and moral development, to ensure that the final grades given are coherent with the pupil's “worth” in society. Thus, even if a pupil receives straight Os, his final grade for his lowest scoring subject may be reduced to an E if the pupil is lazy, is disruptive, is insubordinate, or has other “undesirable” traits. Conversely, pupils with lower grades may have their grade for one or two subjects increased if they are otherwise conscientious, diligent and upstanding pupils.

The equalisation of grades is very controversial, as it is subjective. Some people claim that it is used to punish pupils with “alternative” views or is discriminatory to minority groups such as Catholics or persons of other ethnicities. It may also result in grades being inflated for friends or favoured pupils. Steps have been taken by the Board of Education to reduce this, however, and equalisation is considered an essential component of Erbonian school marking in general.

Stages

Infants

Especially in urban areas, some children attend an infants school from the age of three, in an Infants school, although it is not compulsory. It is not designed as a child-minding service, or to take over the care of children from their mothers. Rather, infants schooling is mainly for social interaction with other children, and thus is only for few hours on a few days a week.

Junior

A typical junior school classroom with blackboard, royal portrait, abacus and wooden desks.

There are five compulsory grades during junior schooling known as juniors :— Bottom Junior (or sometimes First Junior), Second Junior, Third Junior, and Top Junior (or sometimes called Fourth Junior). Junior schools generally only have classes until noon, pupils returning home thereabouts for luncheon.

At the end of Top Junior, pupils in parish schools are assessed and advised as to whether the Board of Education will provide a Senior Bursary for the subsidisation of senior schooling at an independent grammar school. This is generally limited to the most promising pupils.

Senior

Senior schooling begins at the age of eleven and consists of eight forms :— First Form, Second Form, Third Form, Fourth Form, Lower and Upper Fifth Forms, and Lower and Upper Sixth Forms. The majority of pupils only complete up to Upper Fifth Form, leaving to pursue apprenticeships, attend professional or vocational colleges, or to begin work. Some pupils leave at the end of the Fourth Form with a Fourth Form Report to begin work. A small minority of pupils, all grammar school pupils, complete up to the Upper Sixth Form which is dedicated to preparation for the matriculation examinations for university entrance.

A notable feature of Erbonian senior schooling for boys is service in the Cadet Corps company. Nearly every senior school has its own company, and the most have compulsory membership in at least the First Form, which is eagerly looked forward to.

Grammatical Examinations

At the start of the Lower Fifth Form, most pupils begin study for the Grammatical Examinations, or 'Grammaticals' as they are commonly known. The examinations derive from the mediæval origins of grammar schools as a place to learn Latin grammar. The exams historically were set by the schools themselves, and to this day, some schools, particularly independent schools, choose to set their own examinations. Most schools, however, use the examination papers provided by the Board of Education. There are three or four compulsory “full papers” — English, Mathematics, History, and Latin. Latin is only studied by boys. Pupils are also permitted to choose as many supplementary “short papers” as they desire, although many schools require a natural science paper and a humanities paper as a minimum.

As of 2020, there are fifteen short papers offered, excluding modern foreign languages :—

• Arts (Philosophy)
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Economics
• English II (Language)
• English II (Literature)
• Geography
• Greek (Classical)
• History II
• Housewifery (girls only)
• Latin II
• Mathematics II
• Music
• Physics
• Theology

A variety of modern foreign language papers are also offered, including Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Greek (Modern), Italian, Mazurian, Spanish and Russian. These include oral examination.

In the last term of the Upper Fifth Form, pupils are examined and receive a letter grade :— O for Outstanding (95%); E for Excellent (90%); G for Good (80%); A for Acceptable (65%); P for Passing (50%); S for Substandard. The results are listed on the pupil's Firth Form Report, a nationally recognised qualification.

Matriculation Examinations

Pupils who stay on after the Grammatical Examinations generally take the Matriculation Examinations which allows for admission into university, although not all pupils do ultimately matriculate. This takes an extra two years, known as the Lower and Upper Sixth Forms. Generally speaking, the subjects which may be taken are the same as those for the Grammatical Examinations, albeit more difficult. Furthermore, in addition to papers, pupils must partake in oral viva voce examinations.

Tertiary education

The University of Limmes is the main university for Lower Erbonia.

Recognised formal tertiary education in Great Nortend is predominantly in the form of university education, professional pupillage, clerkships and trade apprenticeships.

Universities

See also: University of Aldesey

There are only three universities in Great Nortend, each dating back to the mediæval period :— Aldesey, Limmes and Rhise. University education is focussed mainly on academic and scholastic teaching, rather than research, although there is some emphasis on the latter, especially in post-graduate degrees. The principal degree most students obtain is a Bachelor of Arts which involves a generalist liberal arts education in the first year, followed by two years of more specialised study. High performing students may receive the licentia docendi and will be eligible to incept as a Master of Arts.

Whilst some fields only require a Bachelor of Arts degree (such as a officer, junior school teacher or public servant), many professional occupations require another three-year post-graduate degree, such as a Bachelor of Medicine (Physic) or Bachelor of Laws. This usually requires the licentia docendi. High performing post-graduate students may also obtain a doctorate in their field. Doctorates are also often awarded ex officio, such as the standard Doctorate of Physic for senior post-fellowship physicians, Doctorate of Laws for senior judges and lawyers, and a Doctorate of Divinity for senior bishops.

Clerkships and Cadetships

Many pupils leave school to enter training for their chosen vocation or profession as a clerk or cadet, in fields such as journalism, bookkeeping, policing, sales, or general office work. Such clerkships or cadetships are nationally recognised and lead to formal qualifications issued by the Board of Schooling in their respective fields. In order to qualify, students must study an accredited curriculum during their clerkship and pass examinations. This often involves studying part-time at a professional college whilst in practical training in a firm under an accredited master.

Apprenticeships

Great Nortend has a very highly developed system of apprenticeships for boys and young men in most trades regulated by the Board of Trade. 234 trades are regulated nationwide by chartered trade guilds, variously known as compagnies or guilds. The Apprentices Act, 12 Hen. VI p. 439 formally recognised most of the chartered Lendert guilds as the regulating guilds for the trades nationwide, with local provincial guilds affiliated with their respective national guilds.

Apprentices start between fifteen and seventeen, depending on the trade. Premiums are paid to the master in return for instruction, and often for board and lodging if required. Most apprenticeships last around five years, after which the apprentice becomes a journeyman. After a sufficient period of practice in the trade, usually for more than several years, a journeyman may seek to incorporate as a master.