Traditionally the English, Welsh and Northern Irish system has emphasised depth of education whereas the Scottish system has emphasised breadth. Thus English, Welsh and Northern Irish students tend to sit a small number of more advanced examinations and Scottish students tend to sit a larger number of less advanced examinations.
It should be noted that local English practice can vary from this general picture although Scottish practice is well nigh universal. Nowadays education in Wales differs slightly from the system used in England. Instead, optional teacher assessment materials were provided to schools in for use in English, mathematics and Welsh.
These had been adapted from materials that had originally been developed by the National Foundation for Educational Research NFER and the other test agencies to be used as statutory assessment materials for At the end of , the Daugherty Report was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly to undertake a review of the country's assessment procedures.
The interim report by the committee was perceived by the media as supporting a complete abolishment of the assessments at key stages two and three. In general, the cut-off point for ages is the end of August, so all children must be of a particular age on the 1st of September in order to begin class that month.
Education in Scotland differs from the system used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Basically, there are two systems: one covering England , Wales , or Northern Ireland and one covering Scotland.
Traditionally, the English, Welsh and Northern Irish system has emphasised depth of education whereas the Scottish system has emphasised breadth. Note that the age ranges specify the youngest age for a child entering that year and the oldest age for a child leaving that year.
Also note that children may leave school at the end of any school year after they reach 16 years of age and that they may attend Scottish universities when they are Therefore two sets of national examinations are held. The first set, the Standard Grade examinations, take place in the Fourth year of secondary school and show basic education level. The second set, the Higher examinations take place in the Fifth and Sixth years. A third level, Advanced Higher, is sometimes taken by students intending to study at an English university, or those wishing to pass straight into second year at a Scottish university, and covers the gap between the Scottish "Higher" level and the English "Advanced" level courses, although there is not always a one-to-one mapping.
Education in Northern Ireland differs slightly from the system used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The Northern Irish system emphasises a greater depth of education compared to the English and Welsh systems. School holidays in Northern Ireland are also considerably different to the rest of the United Kingdom. Northern Irish schools generally only get 1 day off for the half term holiday in February, May and October.
Christmas holidays usually only consist of a week or so, the same with the Easter vacation, compared to Englands two weeks. The major difference however is that Northern Irish summer holidays are considerably longer with the entirety of July and August off giving a nine week summer holiday. Primary or elementary education is the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood.
In most Western countries, it is compulsory for children to receive primary education though in many jurisdictions it is permissible for parents to provide it. Primary education generally begins when children are four to seven years of age.
The division between primary and secondary education is somewhat arbitrary, but it generally occurs at about twelve years of age adolescence ; some educational systems have separate middle schools for that period.
Primary and secondary education together are sometimes in particular, in Canada and the United States referred to as " K " education, K is for kindergarten , 12 is for twelfth grade. Typically, primary education is provided in schools , where in the absence of parental movement or other intervening factors the child will stay, in steadily advancing classes, until they complete it and move on to secondary schooling.
Children are usually placed in classes with one teacher who will be primarily responsible for their education and welfare for that year. This teacher may be assisted to varying degrees by specialist teachers in certain subject areas, often music or physical education. The continuity with a single teacher and the opportunity to build up a close relationship with the class is a notable feature of the primary education system.
Over the past few decades, schools have been testing various arrangements which break from the one-teacher, one-class mold. The major goals of primary education are achieving basic literacy and numeracy amongst all their students, as well as establishing foundations in science, geography, history and other social sciences.
The relative priority of various areas, and the methods used to teach them, are an area of considerable political debate. Traditionally, various forms of corporal punishment were an integral part of early education in the UK. This practice has now been outlawed in the UK. The German expression kindergarten usually refers to the first level of official education , according to the K educational system.
Kindergarten is usually administered in an elementary school. The equivalent in England and Wales is reception. The Australian equivalent of this is the preparatory grade commonly called 'grade prep' or 'prep' , which is the year before the first grade. In the state of New South Wales , however, it is called kindergarten. At least in Victoria , kindergarten distinct from grade prep is a form of, and used interchangeably with, pre-school.
Youngsters , usually aged attend kindergarten to learn the finer points of meeting friends and enemies , professional authority in the form of a teacher , playtime , naptime , drawing , music , sometimes the basics of reading and writing , and various other activities.
For children who previously have spent most of their time at home, kindergarten often serves the purpose of training them to be apart from their parents without anxiety. The actual word "kindergarten", as one may guess, translates to "children's garden". Kindergarten establishment day-care in Germany are for pre-school children of all ages and are often run by churches, city or town administrations.
Kindergartens often last only for half a day morning or afternoon , though in many locations there are full-day kindergartens. The elementary school consists of the first seven years of school, that is, grades 1 through 5 or 6, as well as kindergarten , a preliminary year of school before grade 1 known in England and Wales as ' Reception '.
Originally, however, it was studied after primary school in the 19th century, some schools that have only the youngest students are called primary schools to this day. Also known as grammar school in the United States it is a major segment of compulsory education.
The year groups at primary School level are:. Years 7 and 8 are the first two years of secondary school education in the UK. In some independent schools they are included in the Junior School, in others, they are part of the Senior School. Besides these subjects, each school has a list with optional subjects Art, Music, Drama, Latin, Sport Science, Design Technology, Computer Science , and students may choose a few subjects that interest them.
In some schools, students sit Common Entrance Exam in year 7. The transition from Junior to Senior School from year 8 to year 9 may be conditioned by the Common Entrance Exam results in those schools. Year 9 is a very important year in the British school system, as most of the students make the transition from Junior School to Senior School. It is also a very good foundation for the GCSE programme and it is an entry point to all schools. In addition, students choose a few subjects from the optional subject list offered by each school.
In the last two years of secondary education, which are called Year 10 and Year 11, starting at age 14, students prepare for GCSE exams that are taken after two years General Certificate of Secondary Education. These intensive, one year courses, are available for students aged 15 plus, with the appropriate academic level from their own country. Fewer subjects are studied maximum 6. Students study between 5 and 7 subjects, English, Maths and Science being included.
In the UK school system, once a student reaches the age of 16, they can start a 2 year programme which leads to A Advanced level examinations. Students specialise in 3 or 4 subjects, that are usually relevant to the degree subject they wish to follow at university. A levels are state examinations and are recognised by all UK universities and by institutions worldwide. At the end of Year 13, following the examinations in each subject, the students receive A level Certificates.
Those who would like to study more than subjects, may continue their studies in a broader number of subjects with the International Baccaularete Diploma Programme, offered by some independent schools. International students can either choose a state sixth form college or a college of further education as an alternative to private education. Colleges of further education also offer foundation and diploma courses. All colleges can prepare students for entry to a UK university or any university in the world.
Bright World works with a number of state colleges in the UK which provide a multitude of vocational and academic courses. These courses can enable students to pursue their chosen career or to gain a place at a university of their choice. Focussing on practical, skills-based learning, the BTEC students are assessed during the course. After each unit students are assessed through assignments, tasks or tests, and not at the end of the programme as it happens with GCSE or A-Level students.
From age 17, international students can opt to study one year foundation programmes, instead of A levels or IB. These courses lead to private examinations that are an alternative to A levels. Foundation courses at colleges are recognised by universities with whom they have partnerships.
Bright World has partnerships with a number of colleges and Pathway providers and can help place students into Foundation and Diploma courses in London and across the UK. In the UK, a British bachelors degree normally takes three years to complete and most are awarded at honours level. State colleges offer some 2 year vocational diplomas that grant exemption from the first and sometimes second year of a degree programme.
The education system in the UK is also split into "key stages" which breaks down as follows:. Generally key stages 1 and 2 will be undertaken at primary school and at 11 years old a student will move onto secondary school and finish key stages 3 and 4.
Students are assessed at the end of each stage. Once students complete their GCSE's they have the choice to go onto further education and then potential higher education, or finish school and go into the working world. Our overview of the education system in the UK is divided into five main sections:. Primary education begins in the UK at age 5 and continues until age 11, comprising key stages one and two under the UK educational system.
Please visit the British Council page for more information on primary education. From age 11 to 16, students will enter secondary school for key stages three and four and to start their move towards taking the GCSE's - learn more about secondary education in the UK and what it will involve.
Primary and secondary education is mandatory in the UK; after age 16, education is optional. UK students planning to go to college or university must complete further education. Probably the most important subject area on this site, this explains more about the higher education system in the UK and how it works for international students.
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