The UK’s education system may seem confusing at first, but it is one of the most advanced in the world, according to a new study. [Sources: 4]
Students in UK state and private schools study a wide range of subjects from eleven to fourteen years old, and students go to secondary school after graduating from high school. The grammar schools offer courses in subjects such as mathematics, science, English, history and English literature, while some also have sixth-form centres that offer courses for pupils aged 16 to 19. At free schools, most pupils stay in school until they are 18, but almost half of pupils go to university after leaving school, the study found. [Sources: 4, 10, 11, 13]
But how else could these students serve as part of the British education system, or as students in other countries such as the US or Australia? [Sources: 12]
Most American expat students in London receive an International Baccalaureate School, as this work is transferable to the university across the country. American schools are also very focused on welcoming new students and integrating them into a structure that facilitates their and their parents “quick entry into school life. It is easy for these students to make the transition from their home country to the British education system because they are familiar with the school system and the culture of the city and its students. [Sources: 6, 7]
In particular, grammar schools are only for boys and girls, and secondary schools are generally mixed (with the exception of Gordonstoun). Private schools generally offer the same kind of education as grammar schools, but some of the prestigious schools also have private academies, such as the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. There are a number of state-funded and maintained boarding schools, as well as private and private schools. [Sources: 1, 5, 10, 14]
Primary schools consist of preschools (grades 1-5 and 6), known as “reception” in England and Wales, and secondary schools, grades 7-12 in Scotland. [Sources: 10]
In England, most exchange students are enrolled in the last two years of their studies, known as the Sixth Form, where they prepare for their A-levels. The next level is secondary school, which starts in the 7th grade when the child is 11 years old and ends in the 11th grade after the examination. Once a student has started, passed their GCse exams and entered secondary school, the next possible allocation is at the age of 16, when the student leaves primary school and goes to secondary school. Learn more about what secondary schools in the UK include and what you can learn from our guide to the best schools in England and Wales. [Sources: 2, 5, 7, 15]
First of all, in most parts of the UK, a school is referred to as a secondary school. British schools, state-run schools called public schools, are called state schools in the UK, but private schools, such as private academies, are not. [Sources: 10, 11]
These schools are state-funded, but they are free for all students and are considered private schools because there is no teaching. In some parts of the UK, these schools can be considered independent schools as long as the school is free for pupils. [Sources: 7, 13]
There are two types of school in the UK, one is part of the statutory education system and the other is a private school or independent school for children under 16. By law, all children in the UK attend primary and secondary school, which runs for five years – until the pupil is 16 – and then for the rest of their lives. [Sources: 2, 11]
The actual school day can be from 9: 00 to 15: 30 or later, but to accommodate students whose parents work full-time, many schools have breakfast clubs in the morning, while schools can open between 16: 30 and 17: 00. French school days from 8 am to 4 pm, including two-hour lunch. The school opens at 7 a.m. on the first day of school, and a half-day break for lunch is scheduled for the second day. [Sources: 0, 3]
If schools don’t reopen in September, the gap will double to 15 full school days if current home learning rates continue. Information on qualified teachers in the UK is available on the Department for Education’s website on teaching in England and from the National Education Service. [Sources: 8, 9]
The education system in England can be divided into four different levels, and each has its own secondary school. Below is the introduction to each of these schools, with the exact boundaries varying between primary and secondary education, but generally covering the seventh and tenth years of schooling, with middle schools covering the gap. Primary education begins and continues through secondary school, which includes key stages one and two of the UK education system. The division into primary and secondary schools is somewhat arbitrary and occurs in different parts of the country, such as England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. [Sources: 2, 5, 10]
Sources:
[0]: https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/british-schools-different-from-schools-abroad/
[1]: https://www.relocatemagazine.com/articles/education-explained-applying-for-a-school-place-in-england
[2]: https://www.internationalstudent.com/study_uk/education_system/
[3]: https://www.internations.org/go/moving-to-the-uk/education
[4]: https://www.expatica.com/uk/education/children-education/the-uk-education-system-106601/
[5]: https://en.bab.la/great-britain-uk/school-england
[6]: https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/international/transitions/from-american-schools-to-british
[7]: https://www.boosteducationservice.co.uk/british-school-system-vs-american-school-system/
[8]: https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/14848
[9]: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/secondary-school-teacher
[10]: https://www.learnenglish.de/culture/educationculture.html
[11]: https://usic.sheffield.ac.uk/blog/categories/study-experience/the-difference-between-university-and-college-in-the-uk
[12]: https://www.studyabroad.com/high-school-in-england
[13]: https://www.hmc.org.uk/about-hmc/projects/the-british-education-system/
[14]: https://hk.asiatatler.com/life/10-outstanding-british-public-schools
[15]: https://www.sts-education.com/en-nz/high-school/destinations/europe/uk/