A、Many children are no longer placed in schools according to their academic abilities. B、Many children can afford to study in pr

W. In Britain, there are four main types of secondary school, aren’t there?
M: Ah, basically, yes. There’re grammar schools, vocational or technical schools and secondary modern schools and then there are comprehensive schools. In England, however, secondary schools are sometimes divided into 3 main types: Comprehensive schools which are open to all children; grammar schools which are selective and require an entrance examination; and then single-sex high schools.
W: I must say I find your educational system rather complicated. And to make matters worse, you call your private schools pubic schools.
M: Well, I suppose it is all rather confusing especially in England and Wales. The term public school is used for non-profit-making independent schools, and the term private schools for those that are run to make a profit. But like so many other things in Britain, our educational system is deeply rooted in tradition and yet it’s changing all the time.
W: Really? In what ways is it changing?
M: Well, in nearly every way. For instance, there is a very strong movement now towards comprehensive schools. Will all children go for their secondary education no matter what their ability or background? There are already many of these state schools and many children are no longer tested by examination to be placed in schools according to academic ability. And then again public schools will probably become part of the state’s system someday.
W: But will the wealthy always be in a privileged position? They’ll always be able to send their children to the best private schools in the country.
M: Not necessarily. If independent schools join the state’s system and we do away with the idea of grammar schools for the clever, then every child should have an equal opportunity to do well and go on to higher education.