American mum in UK can't believe three things about British schools
The UK is often described as having a good education system, often ranking among the top countries in the world for education across numerous different categories.
Every country has its different rules and customs when it come to school, and the UK is no exception - meaning our education system can be confusing to people who went to school elsewhere. One of these people is mum Molly, who recently moved over to Birmingham from the US with her family and is now sharing the culture shocks she's noticed since arriving - such as having to navigate the education system for her son.
Taking to TikTok, Molly went on to share the biggest surprises that have caught her off guard since she moved across the pond.
"So, I'm navigating the British school system for the very first time and here's three things that I just find wild as an American," she said at the start of her video. She then went on to share her list.
Religious state schools
The first thing on her list was that state schools in the UK can be religious. To this, she clarified through her shock: "What? A school that is designated for the public, not a private school, can give priority to students based on religion.
"Now, I understand the history of it, that like the idea that the public could have an education, you know, hundreds and hundreds of years ago," she said.
"But the idea that if you want to go to school in your neighbourhood, [...] but you can't get in because kids from further away will have priority because they belong to the faith of the school.
"Blows my American mind," she said. "Public schools in America, you just can't discriminate on the basis of religion. Fascinating."
School uniforms
"Second for me is uniforms," she said. "I know that statistics are like overwhelming, like 95% or something of schools in the UK wear school uniforms and it's so embedded in the culture to wear school uniform.
"I didn't growing up, you know it's way less normalised in the US," she continued, giving 'smart shoes' as an example of the 'formal nature' of going to school in the UK and adding that it's all very new to her.
Walking to school
"And lastly, this is something I'm really excited about, is the number of children in the UK that can walk to school is just like so much higher than in the US," she said.
She went on to say that there are multiple reasons why her child and most kids in general in the US were unable to walk to their schools. This included issues with infrastructure and the ways neighbourhoods and roads are laid out, making it more difficult - especially for younger kids - to walk to their schools and back home.
"The idea that you can walk to school is just like so exciting to me. I'm really thrilled about it for my kid," she said.
Several Brits soon took to the comment section to share their thoughts and experiences about the school system, with one viewer sharing: "I was always told that one of the reasons we had to wear uniforms was to stop discrimination against people who are poorer based on their clothes."
Another person said: "Most of the country went to a CofE school and we're still on the road to atheist! They're not religious schools in the standard sense that people might think. Singing some hymns is basically it."
"I work in Catholic school in Bham. Our demographic more non-Catholic than Catholic. it's really not what you think," a third person wrote.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
In pictures: Last Invasion of Britain commemoration
The Last Invasion of Britain commemoration took place over the weekend in the seaside village of Goodwick. The event commemorated the 228th anniversary of the failed invasion by French troops, thwarted by local yeomanry and Fishguard cobbler Jemima Nicholas and her army of women. (Image: Western Telegraph) The two day event was comprised of morning visits to a military re-enactment camp at Goodwick's Phoenix Centre. (Image: Western Telegraph) In the afternoon the action moved to Goodwick Sands where a huge crowd watched the French skirmish with British troops before being overwhelmed and surrendering. (Image: Western Telegraph) The action then moved to Fishguard's Golden Mile from where the French were paraded through the town to the Royal Oak pub where a treaty was signed on the very same table as it was 228 years ago. (Image: Western Telegraph) Musical entertainment was provided on the square by Fishguard Male Voice Choir, Goodwick Brass Band and singer Gwenno Dafydd. (Image: Western Telegraph) It featured HMS Wales, a navy re-enactment group; The First of the First Grenadiers; the Welsh Horse Yeomanry, Enniscorthy Historical re-enactment Society and the local Jemima's Army. (Image: Western Telegraph) The free event was visited by several dignitaries and politicians including First Minister Eluned Morgan, MP Ben Lake, SM Sam Kurtz and deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Rodger Smith. (Image: Western Telegraph) 'It went as well as we could have hoped for,' said organiser Adrian Tyrrell. We had between six and seven hundred visitors over the two days including sea cadets and sea scouts who visited the camp, hundreds of people on the parrog on both days and outside the Royal Oak.' (Image: Western Telegraph) Adrian expressed thanks to his co-organisers Cllr Alex Allison and county councillor Nicola Gwynn and to the event's funders, Pembrokeshire County Council's shared prosperity fund and North Pembrokeshire Chamber of Trade and Tourism, as well as all the people who took part and came to watch. (Image: Western Telegraph) 'It was like a jigsaw,' he said. 'I put it together, but I couldn't put it together without all the pieces and those include all the people who came and watched.' (Image: Western Telegraph) (Image: Western Telegraph) Adrian and the organisers hope to put on a similar event next summer and build up to the 230th anniversary in 2027.
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
New 'Living Roof' installed on top of iconic memorial in tribute to WW1 dead
Commonwealth War Graves Commission installs new 'Living Roof' on top of iconic World War One memorial in tribute to fallen soldiers A pioneering new green 'Living Roof' has been installed on the top of one of the most iconic World War One memorials. The Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, has stood in tribute to British soldiers killed during the Great War for almost 100 years. And during recent extensive work bosses at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission decided to completely change the roof as part of the ongoing tribute to those who died. There is now a mini garden, with a range of plants, on the roof - the first one the CWGC have ever built. CWGC Director of Horticulture David Richardson said: 'As part of this restoration, we have introduced a new living – green - roof onto the site. "This living roof is a first for the CWGC and reflects our broader commitment to embedding sustainable practices into the care of our global sites. With structural modifications to the Menin Gate not permitted, we placed sustainability at the heart of our approach. Featuring two types of planting: a mixed sedum species, and a broader range of low-growing herbaceous plants, the plant distribution will naturally evolve over time.'" Princess Anne re-opened the memorial earlier this month. The Deputy Director of CWGC Central and Southern Europe Sarah Camerlynck said: "We didn't just restore the physical structure; we also renewed our promise to keep the names and stories of the fallen alive. This restoration focuses on the monument's long-term sustainable preservation, ensuring that future generations can continue to remember the important events linked to this commemorative site." The CWGC said they were preparing for the next century of honouring the fallen at the Menin Gate, with the introduction of a pioneering Living Roof system on the monument's newly restored roof. CWGC spokesman Lewis Brown said: "By implementing the Living Roof, the CWGC is demonstrating its dedication to finding practical solutions that contribute to the preservation of species and the mitigation of climate change effects. It marks a significant step in sustainable preservation, ensuring that the Menin Gate Memorial continues to stand as a symbol of remembrance for generations to come. "The installation of the Living Roof required various steps, executed by experts in the field. Several factors required careful consideration beforehand, as the Memorial holds UNESCO World Heritage status and is part of the protected Flemish National Heritage. "This required ensuring that the layout and design of the Living Roof would not compromise the historic integrity of the memorial. Additionally, no structural modifications could be made to the existing design, and the introduction of vegetation needed to be fully reversible." The Menin Gate Memorial is one of four memorials to the missing in Belgian Flanders, covering the Ypres Salient. It bears the names of more than 54,000 members of the British and Commonwealth forces who died in the Ypres Salient and have no known grave. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, the memorial was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927. A Living Roof is a roofing system partially or entirely covered with vegetation. It includes a waterproof membrane, drainage system, growing medium usually soil and plants. Living Roofs offer numerous environmental benefits, such as reducing heat absorption (aiding in temperature regulation), improving air quality, managing rainwater run-off by absorbing rain and supporting biodiversity in the area. The Living Roof helps reduce the urban heat island effect and extends the lifespan of the underlying roof structure.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Orchids will flower beautifully if you stick 1 cupboard item into their pot
Orchids are the UK's favourite houseplant, but many homeowners are making a major mistake when it comes to watering the popular bloom, one gardening expert has warned. In the heat of summer, it might seem straightforward to spot when orchids need a drink, but incorrect watering can harm these delicate houseplants. Gardeners who adhere to a strict watering schedule could be making a significant blunder. The humid British summers can slow down evaporation, potentially leaving more moisture in the compost than anticipated. Ron McHatton from the American Orchid Society has highlighted that overwatering is a common cause of orchid fatalities. However, he offers a simple technique to gauge the right time for watering your orchid. 'Banana fertiliser' will help your orchids 'bloom like clockwork' year round Woman's clever trick that will make your orchids bloom multiple times a year Orchids should be watered just as the compost starts to dry out. Sticking to a fixed watering routine can introduce too much moisture, which may encourage fungal growth, rot, and diseases. Determining if the compost is too dry is incredibly easy; you can either stick your finger into the medium or opt for a cleaner method by using a wooden skewer, reports the Express. Ron advises: "Inserting a skewer, chopstick, sharpened pencil, or your finger will help you determine whether the medium is dry enough to water." He adds: "When many grains of organic matter stick to the skewer, moisture is adequate for an orchid that does well when kept evenly moist. For orchids that require continuous moisture, it is time to water." Since wood absorbs water and changes colour when wet, it serves as a quick indicator to check if an orchid needs watering. Not only are they practical and kind to the orchid, but wooden skewers are also a bargain, as you can usually pick up a pack of wooden barbecue skewers from your local supermarket during the summer months. How to check if orchids need watering Go gently and be careful not to push the skewer too deep as you could risk harming the roots. Leave the wooden skewer in place for roughly 10 minutes, then take it out. If the skewer is damp, has compost clinging to it, and the wood has darkened, then the pot is adequately watered, so it doesn't need more. However, if the skewer looks the same, feels dry, and the wood stays a light colour, then the soil has dried out and needs a drink. Make sure to thoroughly stir the orchid soil until water is freely draining from the pot's drainage holes. Regularly check on your orchid in the summer, especially during a heatwave, but it typically needs watering once or twice a month. If you make the effort to properly hydrate your orchid as temperatures rise, the plant will grow healthier roots and is more likely to flower regularly, with blooms that last longer.
