In this text you will find general information on the education system in the
UK. As there are separate education systems in England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland, the actual ages etc. might vary a little.
School in the UK is compulsory between the ages of five and sixteen. Children
younger than five can go to a toddler group (accompanied by a parent),
playgroup or nursery school.
Compulsory schooling begins at the age of five. Pupils first attend primary
school, which lasts for six years. Often primary school in the UK is divided into
infant school (the first two years) and junior school (the following 4 years).
After primary school, students go to secondary school until they are sixteen
(practical emphasis) or 18 (secondary school with 6th form - academic
emphasis).
The school year consists of three terms. Students have about 12-13 weeks of
holiday per school year.
Age School
<5 Nursery school
5-11 Primary school
5-7 Infant school
oder
7-11 Junior school
11-18 Secondary school with
6th form
11-16 Secondary school
oder
16-18 6th form college
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When students in the UK say what year they are in, they usually use cardinal
numbers, e. g. ‘year ten’. (In the USA, students would use ordinal numbers, e. g.
‘tenth grade’.)
Classes
At primary school, classes run Monday to Friday from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There are usually between 25 and 35 pupils in one class. They primarily learn
how to read, write and count. They also learn something about their country
and about religion and they begin to study their first foreign language.
At secondary school, classes also run Monday to Friday, but are usually from
about 8.45 to 3.30. Typical mandatory subjects are English, maths, natural
sciences (biology, physics, chemistry), modern languages (French, German,
Spanish), religion, citizenship, physical education, information and
communication technology, geography and history. Apart from these, schools
also offer optional courses from which their students can choose. At the age
of sixteen, students usually sit several exams and decide whether they want to
leave school or continue in a 6th form college.
Gifted and talented students can choose to enter for examinations early (one
year or several terms) and then take additional courses in these or other
subjects.
Grading Scale
In the UK (as in other English speaking countries) letter grades are used in
reports.
A > 80% (excellent)
B > 70% (very good)
C > 60% (improvement needed)
D > 50% (close fail)
E > 40% (fail)
F < 40% (fail)
In general, only grades A to C are a
'pass'. Still, in the UK no student has
to repeat a year – weak students can
take extra lessons at school.
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Different Kinds of Schools
Most students in the UK are
enrolled in state funded
schools. These are financed
through taxes, so parents do
not have to pay for their
children's education. But
there are also numerous
private schools, also known
as independent schools,
where education is not free
of charge.
Students can choose to attend a co-educational school or a single sex school.
School Uniforms
It is common for students in the UK to wear school uniforms. They consist of:
blazer or sweater with school logo
shirt and tie or polo shirt / t-shirt
dark trousers or dark skirt
black shoes
At some schools, students are required to wear a shirt and a tie, other schools
only require a t-shirt or sweater. The colour of the uniform also depends on
the school – blazer, sweater, trousers and skirt are usually blue, grey, green or
brown.
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