Introduction to School LifeEducation is an important part of British life. There are hundreds of schools, colleges and universities, including some of the most famous in the world.

Education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 - 16.

Children's education in England is normally divided into two separate stages. They begin with primary education at the age of five and this usually lasts until they are eleven. Then they move to secondary school, there they stay until they reach sixteen, seventeen or eighteen years of age.

Teachers in primary schools ( 4 - 11 year olds) are always addressed by their surname by parents and pupils alike, always Mr, Mrs or Miss Smith.…. In secondary schools (11 - 16 years), teachers are always addressed as Miss or Sir.

Do children wear a school uniform?

Most school in England require children to wear a school uniform.

The uniform

BoysLong grey or black trousers (shorts may be worn in the Summer)White ShirtSchool tie (optional in most primary schools)Jumper or sweater with the school logo on. The colour is the choice of the schools.Black shoes

GirlsAs above.Girls may wear skirts During the summer term girls often wear summr school dresses.

Why wear a Uniform?

When we go on a school trip we all look the same and so can't get lost. Stops kids worrying about what to wear each day.

Everyone is equal. Parents don't have to shop for expensive and varied wardrobes for their

children to keep up with or show-off to other children Wearing a uniform instills a sense of pride and discipline in students

Why not ot wear a uniform:

Uniforms deny students their right to personal identity and self-expression.

At what age do children start school in England?

The statutory school age in England and Wales is from 5 years to 16 years.

English children enter the reception class (first grade) of primary school in the next term after their fifth birthday. They attend primary school for seven years, where they study English, arithmetic, science, Religious education, history, geography, music, art and crafts, physical education, and information technology (computers).

Children also learn French from the age of 7 at our school.

What Grade / Year Group would I be in England?

Children are put into year groups (grades). The whole class moves up a year group each year in September.

Age* England and Wales Scotland

School Key Stage Year Year

4-5Primary School or Infant

School Reception - P1

5-6 " KS1 1 P2

6-7 " " 2 P3

7-8Primary School or

Junior SchoolKS2 3 P4

8-9 " " 4 P5

9-10 " " 5 P6

10-11 " " 6 P7

11-12 Secondary School KS3 7 S1

12-13 " " 8 S2

13-14 " " 9 S3

14-15 " KS4 10 S4

15-16 " " 11 S5

16-176th Form at Secondary

School or CollegeA' Level - S6

17-18 " " - -

On what days do your children attend school?

The children attend school from Monday to Friday, from 08:55 - 15:15.

We have a two week break (holiday) at Christmas and also at Easter. We have a six week break during our Summer (July/August). We also have a break at mid-term which usually lasts for about a week.

The British Government places great importance on the need to assess and test pupils in order to know what they have achieved. Compulsory testing takes place at the ages of seven, eleven and fourteen in England and Scotland (but not Wales where more informal methods of assessment are favoured).

All children in state schools are tested in English and mathematics at the ages of seven, 11 and 14, and pupils aged 11 and 14 are also tested in science.

Most young people take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations at sixteen, and many take vocational qualifications, A/S and A levels (Advanced levels), at seventeen and eighteen.

Age Stage Grade Tests

3-4 Foundation    

4-5      

5-6 Key Stage 1 Year 1  

6-7   Year 2National tests and tasks in English and maths (SATs)

7-8 Key Stage 2 Year 3  

8-9   Year 4  

9-10   Year 5  

10-11   Year 6National tests in English, maths and science (SATs)

 

11-12 Key Stage 3 Year 7  

12-13   Year 8  

13-14   Year 9National tests in English, maths and science (SATs)

14-15 Key Stage 4 Year 10 Some children take GCSEs

 15-16 

 Year 11 Most children take GCSEs, GNVQs or other national  qualifications

What different types of schoolsdo you have in England?

Children's education in England is normally divided into two separate stages. They begin with primary education at the age

of five and this usually lasts until they are eleven. Then they move to secondary school, there they stay until they reach sixteen, seventeen or eighteen years of age.

The main categories of school are:-

local authority maintained schools (State Schools)Free to all children between the ages of 5 - 16

independent schools . (Private/Public Schools)Parents pay for their childrens' education.

State SchoolsIn the UK 93% of the children in England and Wales go to "state schools". State schools are non fee-paying, funded from taxes and most are organised by Local Authorities (LA).

Parents are expected to make sure that their child has a pen, pencil, ruler etc. but the cost of other more specialised equipment, books, examination fees are covered by the school.

Parents are, however, expected to pay for their child's school uniform and items of sports wear. Charges may also be made for music lessons and for board and lodgings on residential trips. Schools may ask for voluntary contributions for school time activites - but no pupil may be left out of an activity if their parents or guardian cannot or do not contribute.

Primary schools (5 - 11 year olds)In the UK, the first level of education is known as primary education. These are almost always mixed sex, and usually located close to the child's home. Children tend to be with the same group throughout the day, and one teacher has responsibility for most of the work they do.

Parents are strongly encouraged to help their children, particularly with reading and writing, and small amounts of homework are set to all children, even during the early years at school.

Secondary schools (11 - 16 year olds)Most children transfer at the age of 11 - usually to their nearest secondary school, though the law allows parents in England

and Wales to express preferences for other schools too. A place has to be offered at the parents' perferred school unless the school has more applicants than places; in that case it will admit the children who have the highest priority under its published admission arrangements which can vary a little in different places.

Most secondary schools cater for both sexes. They tend to be much larger than primary schools.

Grammar Schools are selective, they offer academically oriented general education. Entrance is based on a test of ability, usually at 11 (11+). Grammar schools are single sexed schools i.e. Children either go to a boys Grammar School or a Girls Grammar School.

Comprehensive Schools are non-selective, they do not select pupils on grounds of ability. Comprehensive schools are mixed sexed schools.

High schools are also non-selective. Children of all abilities attend these schools. High Schools are single sexed schools.

Fee Paying Schools

Independent Schools 7% of the children in England go to independent schools. Independent schools are private schools and public schools . Parents pay for their children to attend these schools.

Nursery/Kindergarten 2 to 4 years

Pre-preparatory 3 or 4 to 7 years

Preparatory 7 to 11 or 13 years

Public 11 or 13 to 18 years

Prep SchoolsA preparatory school is a school to prepare pupils to go to a public school.

Public SchoolsA public school is an independent secondary school. Public schools in England are not run by the government. The entrance exams used by most public schools are known as Common Entrance exams and are taken at the age of 11 (girls) or 13 (boys).

The most famous public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

Higher Education

Around 30% of the 18 to 19 year olds enter full-time higher education. The formal entry requirements to most degree courses are two A-levels at grade E or above. In practice, most offers of places require qualifications in excess of this.

What are the school terms and holidays in England?

We have six school terms. The school year starts in September and ends in July the following year.

School Terms

Term 1 1/9/05 to 21/10/05 7 weeks 2 days

Term 2 31/10/05 to 16/12/05 7 weeks

Term 3 3/1/06 to 10/2/06 5 weeks 4 days

Term 4 20/2/06 to 31/3/06 6 weeks

Term 5 19/4/06 to 26/5/06 5 weeks 2 days

Term 6 5/6/06 to 25/7/06 7 weeks 2 days

Total days 195 days

Schools are required to have at least 380 half-day sessions in each school year.

Find out the dates of the school holidays on our School Diary Page.

School HolidaysThe main summer holiday is from mid-July to early September. Children also have 2 weeks holiday at Christmas and at Easter, plus a week in mid-October and in mid-February. Exact dates vary between each education authority.

When are school vacations?

How long do they last?

The British academic year runs from September to July and is split into three terms, with a one week (usually) half term in

the middle of each (This is due to change this year). There are 195 days teaching in the year.

English schools have six terms (semesters), separated by holidays (vacations).

The school year is 39 weeks long and is divided into six terms:

Term 1 - September to October (followed by a one week holiday)

Term 2 - October to December (followed by a two week holiday)

Term 3 - January to February (followed by a one week holiday)

Term 4 - February to March (followed by a two week holiday)

Term 5 - April to May (followed by a one week holiday)

Term 6 - June to July (followed by a six week summer holiday)

Holidays / Vacations

Our main School holidays are:

Christmas - 2 weeks

Spring - 2 weeks

Summer - 6 weeks

We also have a one week holiday at the end of every odd numbered term.

When does the School Year start?The new school year starts in September, at the end of summer vacation.

Who decides the dates of the School terms and holidays? The local educational authority decides the dates of the school terms and the school governing bodies determine the times at which schools open and close each day.

What school events do you have in a typical school year?

There are many school events during the year, such as:

Sports dayStudents compete in sporting

activites and relay races. 

 Excursions (school trips)To points of historical or

geographical significance.

Musical and drama performances by our children

 Music Concert

 

 

Christmas Nativity Play

In Year 6, our students go on a residential trip to France.

 

 

 

How long is your school day?

School usually starts at nine o'clock in the morning and finishes at about three o'clock in the afternoon. Most schools in Britain require their students to wear a school uniform.

Our School starts at 8:55 with registration.

At 9:10 we go to assembly. In assembly we sing songs, listen to a story and pray.

Our first lesson begins at 9:20.

We have break time from 10:20 until 10:35. During break time, the children have a snack and play games out doors.

Afterwards, we go back in for another lesson until lunch at 12:00.

Afternoon lessons begin at 1:10 and end at 3:15, when the children go home.

We do not have a break in the afternoon.

Actual taught time as defined by D.F.E = 23.5 hours weekly.

In British schools, children can usually choose between a hot or cold dinner provided by the school or a packed lunch taken from home. Some children are entitled to a free school dinner, but most children pay for theirs.

Our lunch break is from 12.15 noon to 1.15 p.m. and children may have a school meal or bring a packed lunch.

School lunches are priced at £1.60

 

School Life for a 13 year old British Boy

My School is a mixed 11-18 school. There about 1,150 students in my school, including 200 in the sixth form. It is called a Technology College and specialises in Computers and Maths. My school has over 1200 computers (including over 400 tablet PC's)

I am in Year 8 and at the end of Key Stage 3 (a year earlier than normal). I am presently having to decide what GCSEs I would like to start working towards. I sit my GCSE exams next year instead of the year after when most other people of my age will be doing them.

Some subjects are compulsory like Maths, English, Science and a foreign language. I am not sure what other GSCEs I will be taking. I will have to decide soon.

My School Day

I leave home at 6:45 and walk 20 minutes to catch a bus to school. The bus is a special one just for kids going to my school. The journey on the bus takes an hour because it has to keep stopping to pick up other students along the way.

When I arrive at school, I collect my Tablet PC from the Flexi (Flexiable Learning Centre). Then I go to my Tutor Room for Registration at 8:30. We listen to announcements to see what special things are happening at school today or this week.

At about 8:50 we leave Tutor Room to go to our First Period. Every day I have a different Lesson the first period. Normally it is Humanities but I also have Maths, Drama and Music, and French on the other days. Each period lasts an hour.

All my lessons are in different rooms and places around the school. Each Room either has a three digit number or a name. The numbers are very hard to remember!. I have different teachers for each lesson. I have a locker where I can store some of my stuff but otherwise I have to carry it all around with my in my bags.

Swipe CardsEvery Student carries a swipe card. We swipe into every lesson to let the school know that we have attended that certain lesson and to know where we are in case of emergencies.

On the Swipe Card there are two stripes, a black and a brown. The brown is to swipe into lessons and the black is to get into the toilets and buildings.

We can put money on our Swipe cards instead of carrying cash around. When we want to pay for snacks at the Tuck Shop or canteen we just hand over our cards and they deduct the money.

Subjects

Maths, English Science ICT

Drama Music Art PE

Humanities (History, Geography, and Religion)

French or Spanish

Time Table

9:00 1st Period

10:00 2nd Period

11:00 - 11:20 BreakDuring break, I have a snack and play and chat with my friends. Usually we play 'IT' a chasing game. Snow ball fight when it snows is dead fun.

11:20 3rd Period

12:30 4th Period

1:30 - 2:10 LunchI bring a packed lunch to school but occasionally I have school dinners in the School Canteen.

2:10 5th Period

3:10 End of School

Sometimes I stay after school for clubs.

CanteenThe Canteen is open at Lunch Time and Break Time. Most hot

food is served only at lunch time. Chips are only available on Mondays and Fridays.

Tablet PCWe don't use our Tablet PCs in all lessons because some rooms do not have enough power sockets. We use the Tablets to do our work on and to search the Internet. Our Tablet PCs are connected to a Network so we can send our work straight to our teachers. and they can send them back with their comments.

Written by Erik

What subjects do you learn?

We follow the National Curriculum for England and Wales.

What is taught in state schools is set by government guidelines. The main aim of the National Curriculum is to raise standards, making sure all children have a broad and balanced education up to the age of 16 and to ensure that schools in all parts of the country are following the same courses.

The National Curriculum specifies what children must study and what they are expected to know at different ages. This ties in with the

national tests that check whether children are meeting these targets.

Subjects studied in Key Stage 2 (5 -11 year olds)English, Mathematics, Science, Information Technology (Computers), Religious Education (RE), Design and Technology, History, Geography, Art, Music and Physical Education (PE).

The National Curriculum at Key Stage 3 includes English, Mathematics, Science, Design and Technology, IT, History, Geography, Modern Foreign Languages, Art, Music and PE. In addition to the National Curriculum, RE is also taught and, for secondary pupils, Sex Education.

At Key Stage 4 students have to study English, Mathematics, Science, Design and Technology, a Modern Foreign Language, IT and PE. RE and Sex Education are also taught, although parents can choose not to let their child study these subjects.

What sorts of games do primary school students play during break times (recess)?

The amount of time devoted to break times differs from school to school, but at many schools there are two breaks, lasting about 20 minutes each, for key stage 1 children, and one 20 minute break for key stage two children. The children also have an hour long lunch break. During break times and lunch times the children go out and play in the playground.

 Our Adventure Playground

Kids play on an adventure playground or form teams to play soccer and basket ball. Also popular are skipping and such games as tag.

On rainy days and at other times when they can't go outside, children spend the time chatting with their friends, play board games or reading and drawing in the classroom

We believe extra-curricular activities play a very important role in the life of the pupil and the school. We therefore offer a variety of clubs for our students to join and enjoy. Many of our students also learn a musical instrument.

Once the children have joined a club they are expected to attend regularly.

Some of the clubs only run at certain times of the year. Please see the teacher in charge for more details.

 Club  Day  Time Year Group

  Computers  

Mon  12:15 - 12:45

  5

  Computers  

Mon  12:45 - 1:15

  3

  Computers  

Mon  3:15 - 4:15

  3

  Country Dancing  

Mon  3:15 - 4:00

  3 & 4

  Football Mon  3.15 - 4.30  6

  Netball Mon  3.15 - 4.15  6

  Netball Mon  3.15 - 4.15  5

  Newpaper  Reporters

Mon  3.15 - 4.15  6

  Recorders  

Tues  Lunchtime

  ALL

  Judo  

Tues  3.15 - 4.00

  3

  Judo  

Tues  4.00 - 4.45

  4

  Computers  

Wed  12:15 - 12:45

  6

 Computers  

Wed  12:45 - 1:15

  4

  Computers  

Wed  3:15 - 4:15

  5

  Eco/Scence  Enviromental Science

  Wed

  3:15 - 4:15

  5

  Dance  

Wed  3:15 - 4:15

  3 & 4

  Computers  

Thu  12:15 - 12:45

  6

  Computers  

Thu  12:45 - 1:15

  4

 Choir Thu  3.15 - 4.00  ALL

  Computers   

Thu  3.15 - 4.15 6

  Drama Thu  3.15 - 4.15 6

  Maths Thu  3.15 - 4.00  5

  Computers  

Fri  12:15 - 12:45

  5

  Computers  

Fri  12:45 - 1:15

  3

  Computers  

Fri  3:15 - 4:15

  4

  Cross Country  Fri  3.15 - 4.00  ALL

What different types of schoolsdo you have in England?

Children's education in England is normally divided into two separate stages. They begin with primary education at the age of five and this usually lasts until they are eleven. Then they move to secondary school, there they stay until they reach sixteen, seventeen or eighteen years of age.

The main categories of school are:-

local authority maintained schools (State Schools)Free to all children between the ages of 5 - 16

independent schools . (Private/Public Schools)Parents pay for their childrens' education.

State SchoolsIn the UK 93% of the children in England and Wales go to "state schools". State schools are non fee-paying, funded from taxes and most are organised by Local Authorities (LA).

Parents are expected to make sure that their child has a pen, pencil, ruler etc. but the cost of other more specialised equipment, books, examination fees are covered by the school.

Parents are, however, expected to pay for their child's school uniform and items of sports wear. Charges may also be made for music lessons and for board and lodgings on residential trips. Schools may ask for voluntary contributions for school time activites - but no pupil may be left out of an activity if their parents or guardian cannot or do not contribute.

Primary schools (5 - 11 year olds)In the UK, the first level of education is known as primary education. These are almost always mixed sex, and usually located close to the child's home. Children tend to be with the same group throughout the day, and one teacher has responsibility for most of the work they do.

Parents are strongly encouraged to help their children, particularly with reading and writing, and small amounts of homework are set to all children, even during the early years at school.

Secondary schools (11 - 16 year olds)Most children transfer at the age of 11 - usually to their nearest secondary school, though the law allows parents in England and Wales to express preferences for other schools too. A place has to be offered at the parents' perferred school unless the school has more applicants than places; in that case it will admit the children who have the highest priority under its published admission arrangements which can vary a little in different places.

Most secondary schools cater for both sexes. They tend to be much larger than primary schools.

Grammar Schools are selective, they offer academically oriented general education. Entrance is based on a test of ability, usually at 11 (11+). Grammar schools are single sexed schools i.e. Children either go to a boys Grammar School or a Girls Grammar School.

Comprehensive Schools are non-selective, they do not select pupils on grounds of ability. Comprehensive schools are mixed sexed schools.

High schools are also non-selective. Children of all abilities attend these schools. High Schools are single sexed schools.

Fee Paying Schools

Independent Schools 7% of the children in England go to independent schools. Independent schools are private schools and public schools . Parents pay for their children to attend these schools.

Nursery/Kindergarten 2 to 4 years

Pre-preparatory 3 or 4 to 7 years

Preparatory 7 to 11 or 13 years

Public 11 or 13 to 18 years

Prep SchoolsA preparatory school is a school to prepare pupils to go to a public school.

Public SchoolsA public school is an independent secondary school. Public schools in England are not run by the government. The entrance exams used by most public schools are known as Common Entrance exams and are taken at the age of 11 (girls) or 13 (boys).

The most famous public schools are Eton, Harrow and Winchester.

Higher Education

Around 30% of the 18 to 19 year olds enter full-time higher education. The formal entry requirements to most degree courses are two A-levels at grade E or above. In practice, most offers of places require qualifications in excess of this.

What is the difference between Grammar Schools and Comprehensive schools?

Grammar schools are selective, they offer academically oriented general education. Entrance is based on a test of ability, usually at 11, called the Eleven Plus (11+).(Find out about the 11+).

Comprehensive schools, on the other hand, are non-selective, they do not select pupils on grounds of ability.