EDUCATION IN THE UK

EDUCATION IN THE UK

QUESTIONS:• At what age do children start primary

school?

• School is compulsory until the age of ____?

• What is the difference between state school and public schools?

• What are the three core subjects compulsory until age 16?

QUESTIONS:

• What are the GCSEs?

• What is the UK grading system like?

• Are the A-Levels like the French bac?

• Are universities public or private?

• What does undergraduate mean?

Vocabulary

• Nursery school• Primary school• Junior school• High school• GCSEs• Compulsory• Sixth Form• A-Levels• Loan• Scholarship• Undergraduate• Postgraduate

• Degree• Bachelor’s degree • Lectures and seminars• Independent/public schools• Grammar schools• Fees• Facilities• Housing• Library• To sit an exam• To pass/fail an exam• Term (spring term, fall term)

UK School system

Facts

• In England children must attend school from the age of 5 to 16 and many extend their education to 18 before entering university or college.

• From the age of 5 to 11, children attend primary schools and generally at 11 they then transfer to secondary schools.

• State pre-school education is available for ages two to four/five through playgroups and nursery schools. The emphasis is on group work, creative activity and guided play.

• Compulsory education begins at five in England and Wales. At primary level, there is little or no specialist subject teaching and there is great emphasis on Literacy (English) and Numeracy.

Types of schools

State-funded schools: Independent schools:Approximately ninety percent of British students attend state-funded schools. State schools follow the “National Curriculum,” with core subjects including English, Mathematics and Science.

State schools (and some independent schools) are inspected by the Office for Standards in Education, Child Services and Skills (Ofsted) every three years and publishes the results online.

Also referred to as ‘public schools,’ independent schools set their own curricula and are funded by student fees and interest earned on school endowments/investments.

There are approximately 2,600 independent schools in the UK. About half of these institutions participate in a voluntary accreditation program facilitated by the Independent Schools Council.

GCSEs

• At the end of Year 11, students take national standardized exams, the GCSE exams (General Certificate of Secondary Education). Students may choose the number and subject of their exams (from the 48 GCSE exams available).

• English, Math and Science are required subjects, and UK universities typically expect students to sit at least five GCSE exams.

• After GCSEs, students may choose to pursue either an academic or vocational track. Students on a vocational track can choose to obtain a work qualification such as the BTEC or OCR Nationals.

A-Levels

• Students continuing on an academic track attend sixth form colleges during Years 12-13.

• Students may choose the number and subjects of their A levels (from approximately 80 subjects available). However, universities typically expect students to complete at least 2 A level qualifications, and some university degree programs may specify A level subjects and results required for admission.

• A level results range from A – E and are awarded by external examination bodies.

University