American Schools Versus British Schools! 

I'm American, but went to university in the UK, and one of my friends I made there asked me, after watching the movie Easy A, if American high schools were actually like this. For her, this was so strange, wearing your own clothes and also the distinctly diverse cliques of groups and clubs. For me, despite a film cliche, my school was very much like that. There really were the misunderstood band kids, the preppy crowd, the burnout hacky sackers, the brainy introverts who ate in a classroom, the jocks & cheerleaders, the Christian youth group, etc. My British friend thought this was hilarious and also so exciting. She wished her school had been that freely expressive, and I told her I would've much preferred her school experience. lololol

This probably depends on whether you're attending a public or private school too. I mostly attended private schools because my school district was shit and it was a lot more like how the British one was described. Never saw the principal except at assemblies or when you fucked up, girls had to wear skirts of a certain length and have their shoulders covered and boys had to have specific styles and colors of belts and ties, essays had to be in a particular type of format..... The only American part of them was the graduation.

indian schools and british schools yea pretty similar with the restrictions, however, It's a completely different scenario if u were to compare govt schools vs private schools in india though. Indian private school definitely have way more restrictions than the govt ones

I like how there was some real discussion about education, and the differences in detail. I'm sure that there are different areas in the U.S. and U.K. (rural) where school is pretty different than what these two women experienced, but this gave us a good idea, and the videos that they reacted to were really very funny. 😁

The American schools I’ve been to were sometimes quite harsh. I didn’t wear a uniform and my high school did celebrate graduation but the teachers and the learning was strict most of the time and it just made me feel less comfortable in some classes, my grades weren’t as good as they could’ve been. The only time dresscode was annoying was usually in middle school.

The biggest difference between UK and US schools is that, Brit school kids can pretty much expect to go home alive at the end of every school day.

Goodness. My schooling in Florida was vastly different than both. Where were the mention of riot gates, the metal detectors and locker checks with dogs sniffing for drugs??

You talking about the elastic ties once you were an academy reminds me of my secondary school. I’m British and when my school changed to an academy we had clip on ties so that everyone had a tie that was the same length

Hello , Cady 🇬🇧 and Hallie 🇺🇸 , this channel always makes great duos putting together someone from US And UK , Hallie was good choice 👍

In English class in the US we were taught to write in MLA format and creativity wasn't a thing at all. It probably depends on the school and the teacher you get.

I wore a school uniform from year 1 until year 8, & then I went to a Rudolf Steiner school, a private, but non uniform wearing school, & it took a pretty long time to get used to not wearing a uniform anymore. I loved it so much once I got used to it though! Mainly, because I got bullied in Years 7 & 8 for not wearing 'fashionable' black trousers as part of the uniform.

I feel like with American schools it all depends on what region you live in. Mainly because in certain parts of the southern region, different states have different teaching methods and codes of conduct. Whereas in the northern region some states follow the uk ways of learning and code of conduct. Dress code was very strict in my school. It cost $20 for a uniform shirt and you had to find pants that were the correct color with no added designs. I was sent home because my shirt didnt have the school emblem on it. It was the school colors but just that one thing had me sent home.

Back when I was in 6th form (a little over 20 years ago now - I’m old), we would have sixth form ‘balls’ in the last week of every term, that basically meant someone found a failing pub that was willing to turn a blind eye and sell alcohol to us, and we would all go and get completely trashed on aftershock or worse. It was always on a Thursday, so we would turn up to school the next day either still drunk or massively hungover. The whole sixth form block would stink of stale alcohol. The teachers ignored it and pretended it didn’t happen. When you finish school in UK, you all finish at different times because you all have different exams and one person may finish 2 weeks before someone else, so it’s a sort of weird ending. Then everyone is working summer jobs and getting ready for Uni. The only time everyone comes together after that is results day in mid august. Even then, not everyone turns up. You might go out clubbing later to celebrate though

My American schooling experience was definitely more similar to the British schools than the way American schools are claimed to be in this video. The only things from this video that were accurate to my experience were the (very minimal) dress code and graduation being a super big deal. Even then, most of the students don’t make too big of a deal about graduation, it’s really just the culture around it so teachers and parents make it a way bigger deal than it is.

I am from India, it very similar to UK school system. That is serious and formal Teachers and principal. Its more of a sargent and rookie army joinee relationship. I used to think American school system was always better since it always promoted positivity. But as I grew older I think in a way I gained lot of discipline and more matured and take life seriously (in a positive way as in ambitions ). Growing up in USA I don't think I would have achieved those due to me having too much freedom and thus skipping schools and not giving fks what my teacher said. But I would also like the teachers to encourage creativity like US schools. And yes a little less strict and punishment 😭

I need a whole series about Cady's school experiences.

I remember finishing high school in the UK we got told during after lunch/afternoon assembly on a Wednesday where they had pictures of all the students in year 11 from when they started high school to present day from our school id that we didn't have to come in unless it was for an exams, we then spent the rest of the afternoon getting out shirts signed, though we did still have to come in uniform for our exams I do remember on last day of exams there were a lot of ripped ties and school diaries on the ground

When you are a teenager, of course! You don't like to wear a uniform. But, when you grew up, you can understand that's the best. Why? You would ask me. Because the most important thing at school, is that students differ from each other by intellect, not by fashion. And, especially in girls. You can observe the enormous differences that are generated, how they displace one another, how they discriminate against each other. And if you think about it, even if they go to school in street clothes, they still dress in uniform, depending on the group, some will dress as punks, others as hip hoppers, girls of one style or another. There is more bullying in the classroom, at recess, and less attention on what is really important.

I’m a brit. When I finished secondary school we had a graduation party at a country house. You had to buy a ticket to go to the party & we all had to dress up. We also had an book we could purchase that the class reps had created with our pictures in and we had all had to submit a couple of paragraphs of out time at the school or thanking friends or about ourselves or whatever to go with our picture. So graduation parties do happen in uk. University graduation parties can be big in uk too.

thanks to Cady, I'm now willing to learn more about UK culture! I love her bright smile, voice, accent, personality, and everything. I also really love Hallie too❤️ always happy to see nice people be a good friends each other

Australia is very similar to the uk with the exams and how we learn but graduation is middle ground big deal. Depends on what your school does really

I can easily tell the age group of a British school from its uniform (this is just from my experiences but it's kind of the stereotype) Primary: school-colour jumper/cardigan, school-colour/white polo shirt, black/grey trousers/leggings/skirt and tights Secondary: navy or black blazer, (jumper/cardigan), white shirt, school-colour striped tie, black trousers/skirt and tights Each "section" is separated by commas, interchangeable items are separated by slashes and dependent-on-school items are in brackets.

With like the principal, in New Zealand I’ve had both experiences. My first primary school here was a bit big with 800 kids and the principal was like the British one. He was really strict and you would only ever see him at school assemblies but he didn’t even come half of the time. Half of the time the deputy principal would come saying the principal had a meeting or something so he couldn’t come. He didn’t ever talk to any of the students unless there was something really serious going on. The only time I ever really met him was when I enrolled at the school, he wasn’t even there when I got suspended, that meeting was with the deputy principal. My second primary school had a principal a lot more like the American one. It was a smaller school of like 300 and she knew every student’s name. She would wait out at the morning greeting every student as they came to class and she would say hi to all the kids when she saw them. Even after I started high school, a few years after I finished primary school, she still remembered me. I think it’s actually more of a female principal vs male principal thing. Because in high school when I first started I had a male principal and he was less involved with the students but then we got a new female principal and she was a lot more involved, saying hi to all the students and knowing all their names and stuff. I went to school in Britain when I was little and my principal was female, although it was a little stricter and less involved than female principals in New Zealand, I still felt like she was more involved than male principals in New Zealand and that she would of been more involved than male principals in the UK.

Public school life in Alaska -no uniforms - school at 8:50am - 3:30 changing to 4:00 because of snow days - we eat in our class because of covid - every Friday is movie night - everyone is nice

I went to school in Scotland from the late seventies to the early nineties. At primary school (age 4+) we wore white shirts/blouses, school tie and black, dark blue or grey skirts/trousers. Most wee ones did not wear school blazers - I suppose it would be too expensive, as we'd keep outgrowing them! They were an option, though. Our school wasn't really strict but you could still get hit on the hand with a ruler by the teacher. They had stopped 'belting' with a leather strap by the time I got there. I think most of us liked primary school though. Secondary (aged 11/12+) - it was a maroon blazer, school tie, white shirt/blouse and again dark blue, grey or black trousers/skirt. They did enforce the skirt length too, I remember people getting sent home to change! Our Rector (the headteacher, even though we were a state school we kept the old traditions from having been the grammar school for the town) used to walk about the corridors in his academic gowns, making sure we were behaving. He was a nice man though - IF you were behaving yourself. We had homework from Primary One, the first year at primary school, onwards. Teachers didn't really get involved with your personal problems or give advice, their hands were tied in that way. Sometimes they organised extra-curricular activities like a school dance. We didn't have school counsellors or nurses either. They always seem to have that in American films.That seems like a good idea. Re essays and exams - yes you had to know the subject, but a lot of the time they were asking you to prove or disprove a point (subject dependent obviousl), or to make an argument for something, so you had to have done further reading and formed your own opinions based on that. Another big difference is that our secondary school had prefects, who were senior students who acted as a kind of police, to take some supervisory responsibility from the teachers. Basically they made sure there was no bullying, smoking etc going on on their watch. I'm told they could be bribed though.😆

The thing about graduation in America is they finally got their Diploma. While in the UK, finishing secondary school meaning you'll just get your GCSE. There's nothing to celebrate.

I love the way the us girl was talking about creativity and the uk girl was talking about rules and restrictions

Hallie here! Hi everyone!👋 Thanks for welcoming me to the channel! 🤗🥰 P.S. I'm sorry for all the 'like's hahaha.

I am from the US, back in the 1970's, We had a list of books to read ,one a month and We had to do monthly book report .

As a British girl, I've never, EVER seen my head teacher, and I've been at my secondary school for 3 yrs lmao

Me as an indian -: why i feel like i went to a british school me realizing -: ohh yeah india was under british

I'm American, but my public school experience in Mississippi was more similar to the British school experience--minus the quality and with a dash of prison system culture (including barred windows, iron gates in the hallways, ugly uniforms, visible "dog tag" IDs, etc.). Half of my teachers were underqualified coaches who would resort to bullying the students for kicks instead of teaching because they didn't know how to do the latter.

I like how not just the flags have similar colours 🇬🇧🇺🇸 , but their hair are similar as well 👩🏻‍🦰👩🏻‍🦰

OMG, the American girl, her eyes color are so deep, that iris color is so light, almost like white (with a bluish hue). So pretty! 😍 Saludos desde México! 😊

In the UK, nobody graduates from secondary school. The term "graduation"" only applies to university, where you get a degree (for example a BA or BSc) and then there is a graduation ceremony and a diploma. When you finish school, rather than getting a diploma as in America, you earn a qualification by passing certain national public exams that are externally set and graded (BTW, Brits actually say marked, rather than graded). Technically compulsory education in England ends at age 16, which would be the end of Year 11 ( equivalent to 10th Grade in the US in terms of age bracket). In England, the exams you take at Year 11 are called GCSEs and the most academically oriented students may take 10 or more GCSEs. Typically it would be English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, different natural sciences like Physics, Chemistry and Biology, History, maybe Geography, a modern or classical/ancient language, and something else you might take as an elective like Computer Science, Business Studies/Economics, an Arts subject, or a technical subject like Electronics Although you take those exams at age 16, their level would be equivalent to that of "normal" Senior Year High School classes in the US (i.e., not counting AP classes, which would be more advanced), In the past, many working class kids would simply leave school at age 16, but, nowadays, if you are between 16 and 18, you are required by law to pursue some course of education in England, although not necessarily in a school properly. That can be an on-the-job apprenticeship, or you may alternatively go to a technical college that prepares you for vocational exams like BTechs. If, however, you want to go to universty to get a bachelor's degree, or if you want to get into a military academy to be trained as an officer in the armed forces, then you have to do Years 12 and 13. Year 13 would be ages 17/18 (like 12th Grade in the US) and, at the end of it, you normally take exams called A-levels. Unlike GCSEs, you normally take only 3 A-levels, which is the usual requirement to get into most universities.The more academically inclined students, however, may take 4 or, more rarely, 5. A-levels. Although 3 A-levels only may not seem challenging enough to people from other countries, A-level subjects are studied at a depth lthat would compare to a full first year of university studies in the US or Canada, so they are actually very challenging. The current British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, wants to change how secondary school is organized (spelled "organised" in the UK) so that everybody in England will have to study at least 5 subjects up to age 18 including an English and a Maths (American "Math") subject, but I think two out of those five subjects could be offered at a more basic level in his proposal whereas the other 3 would be studied at the same level as current A-levels . There is going to be a general election in the UK in 2024 though and the main opposition Labour Party is likely to form the next government, so I am not sure if Mr Sunak's reforms will be actually implemented. I don't think Labour is in favor (spelled "favour" in the UK) of replacing A-levels with those new qualifications, but I am not sure. Note that Scotland has a separate education system from England, which is run by the Scottish government and has a different structure. I didn't comment on it because I am not familiar with the Scottish school system. I believe Wales is the same as England in terms of the school system and I don't know about Northern Ireland either.

I did a exchange with my British school to a school in Pennsylvania, you guys get so much libertys like your lessons are so much more uni style education plus you get to chose what you eat in the cafeteria, my god i probably gained 5 pounds while i was out there

Thank you girls! 👏👏! I was waiting for that video to continue learning different pronunciations, but also to see Cady's beautiful smile jj 👀🌹

My high school principal brought in celebrities to put on mini concerts …she was super nice that way

My first science lesson in year 7 (England): teacher walks in “I’m not here to be your friend so shut up and listen” 🤣

American schools are local. Every city or town has it's own school. system and schools can vary widely. In the UK schools are national.

My headmaster in the 60s was also a colonel in the army cadet force and if you saw him you would be expecting either the cane the slipper(beaten with a gym shoe) or rapped over the knuckles with a ruler. This reduced in the 70s and we also lost some of our drunk and predatory teachers but. Violence continued to be normal. Until I left in 1971.

I’m my primary school the teacher was amazing. She was a really nice lady and everybody loved her.

I know like five British schools that were there own clothes were I live😭I didn’t go to any of the

Cady here 🇬🇧 this was really funny watching the videos and comparing school life! When I watch it back it sounds crazy to hear some of the things about our school, it was a crazy time in my life! Do you guys miss school?

4:35 Peanutting is what I know that as (the pulling the thin part of the tie to make a tighter knot)

I am from Iraq. My school has strict laws. You have to wear a uniform consisting of a black skirt and a white shirt. The phone is forbidden to run in the school corridors. It is forbidden to speak loudly. It is forbidden to grow long nails. Hairstyles are forbidden. Except for a few hairstyles. Very tight clothes.

4:27 at our school, pulling on the tie to close the knot was called "peanutting". To combat it you put a 2p coin inside the knot so it didn't fully close and you'd be able to get your fingers in to undo it.

In the uk the only schools you can wear your own uniform in is either SEN schools or Pupil Referral Units.

Americans put an unusual amount of emphasis on graduations, to the point of adding it to completely pointless parts in education. Such as going between elementary school to jr high. Thats not a graduation, thats just "you aint a little kid now, but still a kid" I remember even as a 12yr old thinking it was really dumb i was in this grand ceremony to literally come down to the solution that my classes are going to be a bit harder and no more recess lol

I learned in Ukrainian school. And it's pretty different to both of described ones in this video. If we talk about graduating, (that's the most interesting part) it's like not very big deal and not like just saying "Bye!" But it is like sadness that "we already go from this school to another pathes of life" and nostalgie about time, spent there. But, now I live in Denmark and here graduating from schools and especially from gymnasiums is like in US. They rent a small truck but without a roof in conrainer. And they get in this "container", but standing all the road (they also can unwear themselves almost completely), get the music very loudly. The truck is going around the city (Copenhagen) and they are singing, dancing, fooling around and in all, having fun in it. They can also stop in some point of city and take into fountains and also splash and play there. People around always take videos of this actions (that's completely understandable because in Copenhagen there are always so many tourists and they probably haven't seen such celebrating). Maybe in other countries moving in such an opened container isn't allowed, but here students can celebrate like that.

As an Indian I relate to British schools more... Its true we don't see our Principals ever...Only if you get punished or in a yearly gathering or an Assembly meeting. To be Strict or not to be, it is completely depending on what kind of a person the Principal is...... But I personally love Discipline....and there needs that slight strictness....otherwise there will be Hooligans everywhere In the british way students brains are developed more, beacuse of teh kind of school exercises American way is WAYYYYYYY more Open and Welcoming... But students may misuse that priviledge... Americans literally don't realise how privileged they are.. Ask yourselves Why People want to immigrate/relocate to USA............? _(but you guys are kind of dumb)_

I don't feel like this is the most accurate and generalized American schooling experience honestly.

In my country, we wear uniforms like british schools(but without ties, boys had to wear ties for formal events, with the special formal uniform, but that was it, at one point they allowed some senior girls to design the new school uniform), but my school was more relaxed, like american schools in terms of grading, and the principals, I mean one of my peincipals would play the accordeon at school assemblies

We used to call the "swot knot" a peanut

"maths" being captioned as "math" pained my soul in unimaginable ways

Where I go to school it is a clip on tie so we don’t drag each other on the ground until we got wot we want

Those fences are so annoying,and most times that one person would be able to climb over but get stopped midway because a on-duty staff saw them

My British school is like so strict on uniform 😅 I have sports in the afternoon, I’d have to wear formal uniform in the morning and then change to sports uniform in the afternoon 😂 I hate doing this

great as always😍

I'm from the UK and in my school, they don't care about the tie length, but we do pull ties to strangle people, but we call it 'skinny tied', and we still have the invidulators during exams. now it's only 4 years mandatory in school.

This is Andrew's son speaking, YES, I am a brit but the school I go to is nice and friendly. Probably because it is a public school, not a private school. For an example of how nice it is, the teachers are only strict when it is nessaccary and when I was in year 4, I saw a tiny bit of the year 6 graduation party on the playground. Also, the headteacher is nice (by the way for you americans reading this, where I live in England IS spelt with no space in between head and teacher. A good piece of information for you to know).

Having studied in the Middle East (British influenced) with higher education in the US, I agree with the comment that in the US is based less on the authors analysis (technical) when it comes to areas such as literature, than your own opinuon and being able to make a point. Perosnally felt like in the US you can easily BS your way through instead of having proper knowledge about the material.

If one of you can count the amount of time they said "like" 😭🤣😭🤣😭🤣😭🤣

writing on everyones shirts at the end of year 6 or 11 and the one person who writes KICK ME on your back...😂

In UK schools they often play fast and loose with what you final day actually is, by like, saying you have to attend all the classes you haven't had exams for yet, so your classes kind of peter out, and your friend might finish a fortnight before you. And that is a deliberate move, because there used to be a culture of like, getting drunk on the last day, or causing havoc by like, bringing things in to throw around like eggs, or everyone running out the school at lunchtime and not coming back etc. It was just easier for them to not have a definite end date for everyone at the same time.

very true about graduation, as a brit i just finish high school and got 6th form whereas the US high school is such a big deal as not all people go on to university.

My principal is chill and he hangs out with me and my orchestra class. We don't really have a dress code, but our only rule is no crop tops or spaghetti straps. Our tanktops have to be a tumb wide. (This is not in the school website dress code rules, but those rules were made a few years ago and they didn't change the dress code on the website, so we just memorized the new dresscode.) [I apologize for any incorrect spelling or punctuations.]

omg i am in love with cady's slung

I didn't even go to my Uni Graduation. Just relieved it was over.

As a recently graduated secondary schooler I can confirm it was like this lol

My teacher is very funny and he says like stop smiling but it was a joke I think he does late to lunch early to lunch benched

I’m my high school the teacher backed people croissant and brought sweets for all the year 11s in his class he is also amazing! BTW I am British

For next time please do a versus video about "Bullying in UK vs US" or the different of Showing off in UK vs US. Thanks.

6:03 I live in England and this is just 💀

1:18 Immediately thought abt Harry Potter lol

The school I went to was all girls school I can relate to both British and American

Here in Canada we get a bit of both sides, but it is interesting to see how strict the British schools can be, which would mostly apply to private schools here, which would be much more strict, and even in public schools the dress code in most schools is much more relaxed than American schools.

1:23 so true

Wow very true (American here) wonder how the Aussie, Kiwi, South African, Asian countries, and the Red Heads (wink! much love), and Indian schools differ? I'm familiar with Germany and Swedish general area (your own your own) ... Makes me think of indigenous people as well. I am surprised I liked this video as much as I did. Thank you very much!

Hallie: Yea out principal got us ice cream! :) Cady: We had Spikes so we can’t climb out of school

In my primary school we used to try and climb outside LMAO

2:31 I've been hit so many times by like pens and stuff at my skl 😭

For my graduation we have to throw ties in the air🙄

My secondary school didn't have a uniform and our headteacher was a legend!

I go to a British high school which has two sites one is for the girls and the other one is for the boys wich is ten minutes apart all the girls roll there skirt and sleeves up we have to keep our lanyards on tie up our hair no mater how short or long it is but because of my religion we are taught to be kind and stuff like that so our head teacher is realy kind and our religious teachers are also really kind BUT the other teachers will give us like essays to do on the Blackheath an hour math exam for university students we even have to lock our phone in a phone locker and get it back at the end of the day,if you don’t have your PE cloths straight to a 30 minute detention but the sixth formers get to wear non school uniform

South African schools are like a mixture of these two. In our country you can drop out of highschool as soon as you turn 16 and then go to college as soon as the next semester starts. There is obviously the negative side that you can only study certain things. Most programs requires a highschool graduation and yes in our country we celebrate graduation as well, just like the USA. We don't call it "Prom", we call it "Matric Farewell" matric being the last year of highschool. We have uniforms and our schools have spikes all around on the walls or fences and/or barbed wire. Children skipping school in highschool is also somewhat common. The girls' skirts has too be exactly four fingers from the knee, no shorter, no longer.

i’m still in primary school (i’m young,i know) and i’m british and we have a small school of about 150-300 kids but our head teacher and deputy head is very much like the american ones because when we come in they greet us every morning

Personally, the principal depends on the school. For me, my principal is nice (not that nice) but my vice principal’s are so mean

in british high schools some girls wear their ties short, but when you are in 6th form or in a college you get to wear your own clothes

The English education system is more formal than the American one. I am British and in my secondary school there were cameras in the toilets and magnetic locks on doors

I swear, everyone from 4th-5th grade in my school know that the New York State test is ABSOLUTE HELL

omg the girls in my british school still roll up the skirtssss

Indonesian school and British school are pretty similar with the restrictions. But for the english exam, yeah like an America, more multiple choice.

The socks and sliders exactly how us English people like it. 😂😂

Your description about strangling someone with their own tie was the reason all the schools in our area dropped the tie from the uniform.

In a city of Chicago Illinois public schools private schools and charter schools has to wear uniform. Any school outside Chicago area like the suburbs they are able to wear regular clothes (Depend on the town) except for private school.

Big difference is how we celebrate after exams are finished. In america idk wtf you lot do but for the uk as far as I know most people would go to a local park and get pissed. at 15/16 but of in the states ya cant even drink till ya 21.

🤣🤣 a good old swot knot!

Well...the brittish teacher wouldn't say "point 8th of an inch" (4mm)

My school with rules for uniform can be so ridiculous sometimes. - this is an English academy/high school 11-16 year olds. - Skirt HAVE to be knee length, many girls roll them up and get done for it. - hair styles, boys&girls- no crazy hair dye, boys- cannot have patterns in their hair, boy- certain length can get you done. - our ties are just clip on ties now probably to avoid danger i guess, kids are always stealing one another ties now, just rip them off. - shirts have to be tucked in, if the same teacher catches you enough times, you get an after school 1h detention (well, in my case it was) - pe kit has to be exact. You cannot bring your own jumper unless it’s black/dark blue or you get detention, have to borrow kit but some kids refuse and get into more trouble. - don’t get me started on shoes.