Education: Universities in the UK

Universities in Britain are a magnet for overseas students. There are currently over 200,000 from outside Britain studying at British universities. The largest single group is Chinese students. There are currently 50,000 in the UK. The British government expects the total number of overseas students to be around 900,000 by 2020, and also thinks that a quarter of these will be Chinese.

But why is the UK such a popular destination for university students? Well, the quality of your course is guaranteed. All courses are assessed by an independent system, so you can be assured that your course is officially approved and has wide international recognition.

The British education system is very flexible in order to provide for the needs of a modern, complex society. It is also cost-effective. Degree courses are usually shorter and more intensive than in other countries. There are lots of scholarships available. You normally need 3 A-levels, which are the exams taken by people leaving school at 18, in order to enter an undergraduate degree course. You also need an IELTS score of at least 5.5, but many universities offer foundation or access courses to prepare students for their studies.

British universities offer a personalised but independent approach. The emphasis is on creative and independent thought, which helps develop the skills you will need to compete in the global job market. Tutors not only teach but also provide support and guidance. As a result, international students have a very low drop out rate and a very high pass rate.

It is very simple to become an international student in the UK. The British Council offers a free and impartial service to anyone who is interested in studying in the UK, and an organisation called UCAS assists you in finding a course and making an effective application.

The UK is a dynamic and cosmopolitan place. The countryside is beautiful, and the theatres, museums, architecture and rich history make it a fascinating place to live and study. Why not give it a go?

Vocabulary

magnet=a thing that attracts (literally, a piece of metal that attracts or repels iron)

overseas=coming from abroad, foreign

guaranteed=promised and assured

assessed=evaluated, ranked

recognition=accepting that something (e.g. a course) is of high quality

cost-effective=here, provides good education for not too much money

degree course=a course of study at a university or college

scholarships=payments from a sponsor's funds to maintain a good student in full-time education

IELTS=short for International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking

foundation=here, basic, preparatory

personalised=focused on individual students

emphasis=special importance

global job market=jobs that are open to people all over the world

guidance=help and direction

drop out=when you have to stop your university studies before you have completed your course

pass rate=marks that you need to get in order to begin/continue to study at a university

impartial=fair, unbiased

application =a formal written request for sth such as a job, place at a university; to apply to a university

dynamic=where a lot happens and changes happen quite often

cosmopolitan=including people of many different backgrounds

fascinating=very interesting, irresistibly attractive

Education: Girls Vs Boys

Education is an issue which concerns many people in the UK as well as round the world. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland pupils sit GCSE (General Certificate in Secondary Education) exams followed 2 years later by A (Advanced) levels. Pupils in Scotland follow a different system, finishing their time at school with the Higher Leaving Certificate. One particular worry - why are boys doing so badly?

Some twenty years ago, the performance of girls and boys in class was compared. Boys scored better in exams, so various measures were introduced to improve the performance of girls, including having single sex girl-only classes. Now, the situation is reversed, with girls consistently out-performing boys.

So, what has gone wrong with boys, and what can be done about it? John Dunsford, leader of the association of head teachers of secondary schools, says that that the academic failure of boys is a problem which has its roots in society rather than the classroom. Girls, more than boys, see education as a passport to a good job. On the other hand, according to Penny Lewis, a head teacher, young men lack confidence, which they hide with a show of bravado. They're uncertain about their place in society. Some boys grow up in families where there is no male role model to follow.

Moreover, boys may learn in a different way to girls, preferring small amounts of work with immediate deadlines rather than large projects stretching into the distance. And education is not seen as 'cool'.

As one contributor to a BBC website put it, "Girls achieve more at school because they are watching the future while the boys are watching the girls."

This is not just a problem in Britain. In a study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and UNESCO, girls out-performed boys at reading at the age of 15 in all 45 countries. The UK ranks ninth out of the 45 countries for reading despite the fact that pupils in the UK spend less time reading than in most other countries. Interestingly, the study suggested that British children read for pleasure more often than those in other countries.

Text 20. Sherlock Holmes returns21 January 2011

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle killed off Sherlock Holmes when writing the stories took up too much of his time. Now, 80 years after the author's death, Britain's most famous detective is being brought back to life with a new novel by Anthony Horowitz.

The character of Sherlock Holmes was originally created by the Scottish writer Arthur Conan Doyle, who featured him in four novels and more than 50 short stories. After his death, his son Adrian wrote several stories featuring the famous Victorian detective, but critics say he was never that popular.

But it's the first time that the Arthur Conan Doyle estate has officially asked an author to write a new novel. He has been named as Anthony Horowitz and is best known his Alex Rider children's series. So was he daunted by the challenge?

Anthony Horowitz: "Well obviously, it was daunting to a certain extent and you are dealing with probably the most iconic detective in the whole history of literature. And the one thing I didn't want to do was to disappoint those really devout fans, the sort of Sherlock Holmes Society and people who love these books.

But to be honest with you, I actually found it fairly easy to write because I have loved those books since I was 16 years old, I've read them two or three times during the course of my lifetime – in fact, my whole life as a writer of crime fiction myself was, to a certain extent, inspired by Doyle and I find the book not so scary as I thought it might be."

Anthony Horowitz says he's a devoted fan and aims to produce a first rate mystery for a modern audience.

Vocabulary

character=here, a person or a creature that has been created for a story

Victorian detective=person who tried to solve crimes during the time of Queen Victoria's reign in Britain (1837-1901)

critics=people who write or talk about their opinions, sometimes in the media

an author=someone who writes books or articles

daunted by=worried, slightly frightened or intimidated by

to a certain extent=in some ways

iconic=someone or something which is representative of a time, culture or purpose

to disappoint=to make others feel sad because you haven't done something they expected you to

devout fans=people who love and support something or someone with a passion that's almost religious

crime fiction=stories that are created by writers about illegal activities which are not true

Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, caught on tape trying to sell access to ex-husband, Prince AndrewBY EDGAR SANDOVAL AND KATIE NELSON DAILY NEWS Sunday, May 23, 2010

Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity person, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. Britain's royal family gathered in crisis state of mind last night to decide the fate of Duchess of York after she got caught trying to make big bucks off Buckingham Palace.

Sarah Ferguson used secret meetings in New York and London to sell access to her ex-husband Prince Andrew for more than $750,000, a British tabloid revealed. The duchess, 50, offered the access to her ex-hubby to an undercover reporter for the News of the World posing as an Indian businessman seeking trade connections.

The reporter and the duchess were introduced in January and met again May 14 at The Mark hotel in London. Accompanied by two assistants, Fergie chatted about a book she is writing and her "rented room" in Prince Andrew's 30-bedroom Royal Lodge.

Prince Andrew, 50, works as a special representative for Britain's international trade and investment. She invited the "businessman" to meet Andrew. "So, as soon as you come to London, come to Royal Lodge. I'll introduce you and sit down and you'll talk to him about whatever," she said.

A second meet-up took place Tuesday over pea soup and lamb at a posh London restaurant and then at the businessman's "apartment." It was then that the duchess made known her clever trick for payments: a $40,000 cash advance, 500,000 pounds (about $723,000) as a wire transfer in exchange for access to Britain's royal family.

Ferguson was caught on tape smoking and drinking a glass of red wine in front of pile of bills - the $40,000 down payment - spread before her on a coffee table. On the video, which is publicly available, Sarah is heard to say to the reporter, "Five hundred thousand pounds when you can, to me, open doors". She is seen taking away a briefcase containing $40,000 in cash.

Sarah excused her behaviour in an interview with Oprah Winfrey by saying, "I very deeply regret the situation and the embarrassment caused." Fergie said her "financial situation is under stress," but added: "That is no excuse for a serious lapse in judgment and I am very sorry that this has happened."

Ferguson and Prince Andrew have two daughters, Princesses Beatrice, 21 and Eugenie, 20. They married in 1986. By 1991, the marriage was in trouble. While her husband was away on naval or royal duties, the Duchess was frequently seen in the company of other men. Andrew and the Duchess of York finally announced their separation on 19 March 1992.