Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU

The UK stopped being a member of the European Union (EU) after 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020.

For those not following every twist and turn, this is what you need to know.

What is Brexit?

Brexit - British exit - refers to the UK leaving the EU.

A public vote (known as a referendum) was held in June 2016, when 17.4 million people opted for Brexit. This gave the Leave side 52%, compared with 48% for Remain.

What is the European Union?

The EU is an economic and political union involving 28 European countries. It allows free trade, which means goods can move between member countries without any checks or extra charges. The EU also allows free movement of people, to live and work in whichever country they choose.

The UK joined in 1973 (when it was known as the European Economic Community) and it will be the first member state to withdraw.

What happens after Brexit day?

After the UK formally leaves the EU on 31 January 2020, there is still a lot to talk about and months of negotiation will follow.

While the UK has agreed the terms of its EU departure, both sides still need to decide what their future relationship will look like.

This will be worked out during the transition period (which some prefer to call the implementation period), which begins immediately after Brexit day and is due to end on 31 December 2020.

During this 11-month period, the UK will continue to follow all of the EU's rules and its trading relationship will remain the same.

• UK-EU trade talks: A simple guide
• Seven things that will change after Brexit day

What needs to be agreed?

The transition period is meant to give both sides some breathing space while a new free trade agreement is negotiated.

This is needed because the UK will leave the single market and customs union at the end of the transition. A free trade agreement allow goods to move around the EU without checks or extra charges.

If a new one cannot be agreed in time, then the UK faces the prospect of having to trade with no deal in place. That would mean tariffs (taxes) on UK goods travelling to the EU and other trade barriers.

Aside from trade, many other aspects of the future UK-EU relationship will also need to be decided. For example:

• Law enforcement, data sharing and security
• Aviation standards and safety
• Access to fishing waters
• Supplies of electricity and gas
• Licensing and regulation of medicines

Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists the transition period will not be extended, but the European Commission has warned that the timetable will be extremely challenging.

• What is the transition period?
• Brexit: What happens next?

What is the Brexit deal?

The transition period and other aspects of the UK's departure were agreed in a separate deal called the withdrawal agreement.

Most of that was negotiated by Theresa May's government. But after Mr Johnson replaced her in July 2019, he removed the most controversial part - the backstop.

Carols in English! 2ESO BRIT

We have been singing English carols this morning!It has been lots of fun!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY!!!

Lewis Carroll, 120 years since his death

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson ( 27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English writer of world-famous children's fiction, notably Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass. He was noted for his facility at word play, logic, and fantasy. The poems Jabbewocky and The Hunting of the Snark are classified in the genre of literary nonsense. He was also a mathematician, photographer, and Anglican deacon.

History project: Henry VIII

Our students in their second year of the Bilingual Program  interviewed Henry VIII and his six wives in the meeting room of our high school on one of the popular Fridays "Los viernes al salón". It was really fun!!! The activity was based on a book they read about king Henry VIII with their history teacher Carolina Navarro. The performance was superb!!!
Congratulations guys!!!

Project 1st,2nd ESO: Jane Austen

A celebration is in progress this year in honor of one of the world’s most popular authors. July 18, 2017 marks the bicentenary of Jane Austen’s death at Winchester, England in the arms of her sister Cassandra. She was only 41 years old. We have six novels, one novella and minor works to cherish. Her fandom has grown to millions.

UK CULTURE CLASS BURLINGTON

Our 1st and 2nd year students enjoyed an appealing culture class about  United Kingdom, its flag, traditional food, the Royal family, the English language, music etc. It was great fun since the students could participate answering questions, playing games, and they had the chance to win some fabulous "limited edition" prizes!!

David Bowie: one year after his death

One year has passed since the death of David Bowie, the larger-than-life musician behind songs like "Space Oddity" and "Changes." Bowie, 69, succumbed to liver cancer in New York City in 2016, kicking off a year of devastating celebrity deaths for pop culture fans.

A singer, songwriter and actor with a lengthy career, Bowie was busy making music until his death. "Blackstar," Bowie's 25th album, came out just two days before he passed away. He was cremated, and there was no funeral.

Though Bowie may be physically gone, his legacy remains. In addition to thousands of lines of lyrics, there are dozens of Bowie sayings still inspiring artists today. On the first anniversary of his death, read through some of Bowie's greatest quotes, collected from BrainyQuote, Goodreads and AZQuotes.com:

"I find only freedom in the realms of eccentricity."

"I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring."

"What I have is a malevolent curiosity. That's what drives my need to write and what probably leads me to look at things a little askew. I do tend to take a different perspective from most people."

"Fame itself doesn’t really afford you anything more than a good seat in a restaurant."

"All my big mistakes are when I try to second-guess or please an audience. My work is always stronger when I get very selfish about it."

"I guess, taking away all the theatrics or the costuming and the outer layers of what I do, I'm a writer. I write."

"As you get older, the questions come down to about two or three. How long? And what do I do with the time I've got left?"

"I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human."

"It's always time to question what has become standard and established."

"Don’t you love the Oxford Dictionary? When I first read it, I thought it was a really really long poem about everything."

"Speak in extremes. It'll save you time."

"A song has to take on character, shape, body and influence people to an extent that they use it for their own devices. It must affect them not just as a song, but as a lifestyle."

"From my standpoint, being an artist, I want to see what the new construction is between artist and audience."

"Make the best of every moment. We’re not evolving. We’re not going anywhere."

How to have a British Christmas

History of Guy Fawkes

Catholic dissident Guy Fawkes and 12 co-conspirators spent months planning to blow up King James I of England during the opening of Parliament on November 5, 1605. But their assassination attempt was foiled the night before when Fawkes was discovered lurking in a cellar below the House of Lords next to 36 barrels of gunpowder. Londoners immediately began lighting bonfires in celebration that the plot had failed, and a few months later Parliament declared November 5 a public day of thanksgiving. Guy Fawkes Day, also known as Bonfire Night, has been around in one form or another ever since. Though originally anti-Catholic in tone, in recent times it has served mainly as an excuse to watch fireworks, make bonfires, drink mulled wine and burn Guy Fawkes effigies (along with the effigies of current politicians and celebrities).

Click on that link to watch an interesting video about Bonfire Night:
  
CELEBRATING BONFIRE NIGHT

GUY FAWKES NIGHT

REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER (Traditional English Rhyme - 17th Century) Remember, remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot I see no reason why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent To blow up the King and the Parliament Three score barrels of powder below Poor old England to overthrow By God's providence he was catched With a dark lantern and burning match Holloa boys, holloa boys God save the King! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! A penny loaf to feed ol' Pope A farthing cheese to choke him A pint of beer to rinse it down A faggot of sticks to burn him Burn him in a tub of tar Burn him like a blazing star Burn his body from his head Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead. Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!

REMEMBER REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER...

Our 2nd ESO students have prepared a project about GUY FAWKES NIGHT or BONFIRE NIGHT , a very popular celebration in UK on 5th November.

PROJECT 1º,2º,3º ESO BILINGUAL PROGRAM: ROALD DAHL

Our students in 1st, 2nd and 3rd year of ESO have carried out a project about the famous storyteller Roald Dahl, working on his biography  and stories like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Esio Trot, Matilda, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Big Friendly Giant, Revolting Rhymes, James and the Giant's Peach,  Roald Dahl's Quotes, George's Marvellous Medicine, The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, Roald Dahl's Book of Ghost Stories, The Magic Finger, The Twits, The Enormous Crocodile ...
We hope you like it.