Liu Jing told the reporter that, generally speaking, the essence of education in the UK begins at the secondary school level. The UK fosters an educational atmosphere for gentlemen and ladies, which is a form of noble education. This does not refer to the high cost of education, but rather to the philosophy and essence of education. In addition to cultivating students' academic levels, it also develops their social skills and overall quality. In secondary school, students not only study normal subjects such as mathematics and physics but also learn social etiquette, tea art, equestrian skills, golf, and more. This is a comprehensive educational system that nurtures individuals rather than just producing exam machines.
At the same time, UK secondary education highly respects students' individuality. Many students from China may find that they are not particularly outstanding in their home country, but after arriving in the UK, their grades improve significantly, and they develop exceptionally well, eventually gaining admission to Oxford or Cambridge. The reason for this phenomenon is that they excel in certain areas, such as violin or sports, and UK schools greatly respect and support this development, providing comprehensive recognition that boosts students' confidence, leading to improvements in other subjects as well.
Lastly, it is noteworthy that in the UK, students begin taking specialized courses in middle school. In China, middle school may still focus primarily on basic subjects such as language, mathematics, and physics. However, in the UK, middle and high school students already have preparatory courses for university subjects, including business management, finance, and accounting. This early exposure helps students engage with fields they may encounter in their future careers, assisting them in clarifying their career development direction. This may also explain why many graduates from UK boarding schools remain calm and confident; additionally, many of them know what they want and have a clear vision of their future direction.
