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Schools
学校
September is traditionally the end of summer and the beginning of autumn in the UK.
传统来讲，9月是夏末秋初的月份，
It is also the month when children go back to school after their long summer holidays,
也是孩子们在结束漫长的暑假后回到学校的月份。
but what do you actually know about British schools?
但是，你实际上又对英国的学校了解多少呢？
There are two types of school in England.
在英格兰有两种类型的学校。
State-run schools are paid for by the government,so are free to attend.
公立学校由政府支付费用，上学是免费的。
Independent Schools are private,which means you have to pay to attend.
私立学校则是私人性质的，进这样的学校就意味着你要自己交钱上学了。
The school day usually starts at 9 in the morning and finishes around 4, with breaks for lunch of course!
学校一般早上9点开始上课，下午4点左右放学，当然中间有午餐小息。
In many schools, you have to wear a uniform too.
许多学校还会要求学生穿校服。
Children start school when they are 5 years old.
孩子到了5岁，就要开始上小学了。
This is called primary school, and lasts until the child is 11 when he or she will go on to senior school.
小学要一直上到11岁，那时候孩子就要进入大龄儿童学校学习了。
Secondary school is compulsory from 11 until 16 years of age.
中学的教育是义务教育，面向11-16岁的青少年。
At 16, students take national examinations called GCSE's.
16岁时，学生要参加全国统一考试，称为“普通中等教育证书”考试。
After this, students can stay on that school for another 2 years and take A Level examinations.
通过该考试以后，他们就可以在学校再学习两年，然后参加中学高级水平考试。
These examinations are necessary if they want to go on to university at 18.
如果学生想在18岁上大学，那么他们必须通过这些考试。
Some universities start in September,but others begin in October.
一些大学在9月份开学，但也有在10月份开学的。
Courses normally last 3 years,but some, such as languages, engineering or medicine,can take much longer to complete.
一般3年就可以学完课程，但像语言类，工程类或者医学类这样的学科则要花更长的时间才能修完。
Students usually go to university in a different town,so need to get used to living alone,paying bills and washing their own clothes!
通常，学生们上的大学都在另外一个城镇，因此他们要习惯独自生活，支付账单和自己洗衣服！
For many, this is a difficult time,but everyone soon becomes used to it!
对于很多学生来讲这都是不容易的事情，但是每个人很快就习惯了！
Universities in Britain used to be free,but many students now have to pay for part of their course.
英国的大学以前是免费的，但是现在，许多学生都必须支付课程的部分费用了。
Similarly, students used to receive a grant—money from the government in order to live.
同样地，学生以前也会有助学金-来自政府的生活补贴。
Nowadays, they have to borrow money from banks or the government, called a student loan,or take part-time jobs.
而现在，他们不得不向银行或者政府借钱，这就是所谓的学生贷款；或者去做兼职。
Either way, it can be difficult and many students have money problems.
不管哪一种方式都很困难，很多学生都存在经济上的问题。
School and university life are not just about studying, however.
然而，学校和大学生里的生活并不仅仅是学习。
Many students take part in drama productions or play music.
许多学生会参加戏剧创作或者去搞音乐。
Others, of course, take part in a wide range of sports,such as football, rugby and cricket.
当然，其他的人也会参加各种各样的体育活动，比如足球，橄榄球和板球。
Many of the friends British people make at school and university remain friends for life,
英国人在学校或大学里交到的很多朋友都会维系一生。
so it seems true to say that your schooldays really are "the best days of your life."
所以，校园生活是一生中最棒的日子这种说法似乎不无道理。
