In Britain, one track of the dual-track system is the school system of the ruling class, which aims to educate the children of the upper class and train state officials and other senior talents. This school system usually consists of universities and middle schools, among which middle schools are established to meet the needs of upgrading to universities, while universities are the apex of the whole school system, and middle schools are actually preparatory schools for universities.
The other track is the civilian school system, which is mainly composed of primary schools that implement primary education and secondary schools that implement vocational and technical education. Before the beginning of the 20th century, these middle schools were basically not recognized as regular middle schools, and their graduates were not qualified to enter universities.
After entering the 20th century, especially after the Second World War, with the widespread practice of the concept of equality of educational opportunities, the aristocratic, class and undemocratic nature of the British dual-track school system was severely criticized, so Britain realized the unification and simplification of the educational system of primary and secondary schools. As a result, the dual-track school system was partially changed and gradually evolved into a branch school system.
France's dual-track system is similar, but it is more inclined to technical education. In France, the first track of the dual-track system consists of universities and high schools of science and technology, with the aim of training senior researchers and engineers. The other track includes vocational high schools and industrial high schools, aiming at training junior and middle managers for the industrial and commercial departments.
Generally speaking, Britain's dual-track system pays more attention to academic education, while France's dual-track system pays more attention to technical education. However, the dual-track system of the two countries aims to meet the needs of different types of talents in society and ensure the fairness of educational opportunities.