Education in Great Britain

Education is a highly topical issue in Britain since it affects nearly everybody. UK

education is recognized and respected throughout the world. The students UK
qualification will be a solid foundation for building the students future, boosting his/her
career and prospects for a higher salary. UK universities, colleges and schools will provide a
vibrant, creative and challenging environment in which to develop his/her potential. Quality
standards for UK institutions are among the best in the world. Universities, colleges and
schools continually have to prove that their courses meet strict criteria. Many other countries
are now trying to follow the example of the UK.

Educational System
Great Britain has three administrative systems of public education - one for England and
Wales, one for Northern Ireland and one for Scotland. The three systems differ mainly in terms
of the administration of charges, but the organisation of the education system is similar.
Education in Great Britain is compulsory and free for all children between the ages of
five and 16. At the age of 16 about two thirds of pupils leave school and start working, with
around 30 percent staying at school until the age of 18. There are around 30,000 state schools
and 2,000 private schools, with about 93 percent of all children attending state schools and the
rest studying at private schools. The main education system is divided into three main stages:
primary, secondary and higher, as well as nursery schools or kindergartens which small children
can attend. The entry age for nursery schools is three.

The National Curriculum

The National Curriculum was introduced in the educational system of Great Britain in
1988 with the adoption of the Education Reform Act. It consists of 10 subjects: English,
mathematics, science, history, geography, art, music, technology, physical education (P.E.) and a
modern foreign language (usually French or German). Religious Education is required for pupils
as part of the basic curriculum, although parents have a right to withdraw their children from
religious classes. Northern Ireland follows a similar framework . Schools can still develop
additional curriculum to the needs and circumstances of individual students . For example,
Gaelic and Irish are core subjects in schools in Wales and North Ireland.
Pupils' progress in subjects is measured by written and practical tests and at the age of 16,
all pupils take the main state examinations, the General Certificate of Secondary Education
(GCSE), usually taking as many subjects as possible. The weaker students may only sit for three
or four subjects with the better students taking five or six. The more ambitious pupils - around 66
percent - continue with the sixth form; they remain at school for two more years and take their Alevel exams.

Primary School
Between the ages of five to 11 children start attending primary schools for six years. This
level of education has two sub-stages: infant and junior school. Infant school is attended between
the ages of five and seven, while junior school is between seven and 11. Children learn English,
mathematics, science and technology, history, geography and religious knowledge and take
standards tests at 7, 11 and 14. Children transfer from the primary school at the age of 11 with
Secondary education taking either five or seven years.
Around 8 percent of all pupils attend private schools; with 4 percent not going to school
at all. The legislation in Great Britain allows parents to educate their children at home if they can
prove they have the ability to do it properly. The biggest share of pupils - around 88 percent go
to comprehensive schools and study the same National Curriculum. There are no vocational
schools, or special art or music or technical schools in Britain.
All primary state schools in the UK are co-educational and free. All schools are under the
jurisdiction of the Department for Children, Schools and Family and are receiving periodic
inspections by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). Private schools are inspected by
the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Secondary School
Most secondary schools have sixth form departments providing one or two year courses.
Some students go to a designated sixth form college, where the atmosphere is less like at school
and where they are treated as adults. At the sixth form stage students are highly specialised in
three or four subjects, which aims to prepare them to enter the third level of education system.
Secondary education encompasses the next level of education between the age group of 11-16
years. Here, students will be pursuing a common set of courses and take the GCSE exam
conducted at the end of secondary education.
Nearly 88 percent of secondary school pupils in England go to comprehensive schools, as
do all pupils in Wales. These take children of all abilities and provide a wide range of secondary
education for all or most of the children in a district from 11 to 16 or 18. All children in Scotland
go to non-selective schools.
Children start primary school in Scotland at the age of four and a half - five and a half
depending on the child's birth date. The Scottish system is the most flexible in the UK, students
frequenting primary school for seven years, then the secondary schools for 2 year between 11
and 12. In Scotland, pupils take standard exams at the age of 15-16 years old, sometimes earlier,
to eight subjects including compulsory exams in English, mathematics, a foreign language, a
science subject and a social subject. Students can then spend a year studying further for higher

grades (Highers), after which they can go on to study at university. Often students leave school
or college with a broad knowledge on a wide range of topics.
At the end of the sixth form students take much harder exams called A Levels
(Advanced). Around 10 percent of all pupils take the A Levels exams in three subjects only.
There are five grades of pass A, B, C, D and E. Most of the exams are written. All students take
the same exams on the same dates in May and June and the results are released in August. All
universities require the A Level qualifications. International students often enter the education
system at this point, e.g. taking an A-level course in preparation for further or higher education in
the UK.

The higher education

In this level students can choose either to enter university, polytechnic or college of
further education. There are around 90 universities in Great Britain, including the Open
University, Oxford and Cambridge which were established in the 13th century. The 15 city
technology colleges in England teach the national curriculum but with an emphasis on science,
technology and mathematics. In addition to the universities, Great Britain has many colleges that
specialise in art, business studies, teacher training and technical subjects. All universities are
autonomous institutions, particularly in matters relating to courses. They are empowered by a
Royal Charter or an Act of Parliament. Most universities are divided into faculties which may be
subdivided into departments. Non-university higher education institutions also provide degree
courses, various non-degree courses and postgraduate qualifications.

Undergraduate
An undergraduate degree normally takes three years to complete but can take longer if
they include an industrial placement, an additional subject or a year abroad. They are also
specialised from Year One. Types of undergraduate degree include:

BSc (Bachelor of Science) - a science degree

BA (Bachelor of Arts) - an arts degree
BEng (Bachelor of Engineering) - an engineering degree
Undergraduate Degree with or without Honours (e.g. B.Sc Hons) three-year
undergraduate degree including extra subjects studied at a deeper level, or of four-year
duration with an year in the Industry, for practical training.

Postgraduate
Students who receive good grades in their undergraduate degrees may choose to take a
Masters degree, which takes a minimum of one year to complete. Types of Masters Degree
include:

M Sc (Master of Science)
MA (Master of Arts)
M Ed (Master of Education)
LLM (Master of Law)
MBA (Master of Business Administration)

Types of schools in the United Kingdom:

A) Private/Public schools in the United Kingdom
There are more than 2,500 private schools in the UK. Such schools are for those who rely
on private funding sources. These schools have a long tradition, historical buildings, many of
them being old to 600 years. They have a complete or a partial school boarding and fees can
reach up to 28,000 per year. These schools select their pupils by their own rules, but subject to
UK laws against various forms of discrimination. Academic ability of applicants and their
parents' financial situation, there are two essential criteria for selection. Some private schools
offer generously scholarships to extremely intelligent students. The purpose of private education
in general is to bring the student to a very high academic level, to develop academic skills and
personal qualities. Traditionally, many private schools have been single-sex, but a growing
number are now co-educational (mixed-sex). Traditional public schools such as Radley,
Winchester, Eton and Harrow take boys at 13 years of age.

B) State-funded/State schools in the United Kingdom

State-funded schools in England are schools in England which provide education to
pupils between the ages of 3 and 18 without charge. Approximately 93% of English
schoolchildren attend such schools. These include Academy schools, Community schools,
Foundation schools, Voluntary Aided schools and Voluntary Controlled schools; a small
number are state boarding schools and three are City Technology Colleges. A significant
minority are faith schools, which are attached to religious groups, most often the Church of
England or the Roman Catholic Church. All of these are funded through national taxation. A
number of state-funded secondary schools are specialist schools, receiving extra funding to
develop one or more subjects in which the school specialises. State schools may request
payment for extracurricular activities such as swimming lessons and field trips, provided
these charges are voluntary.

C) Grammar schools in the United Kingdom

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. Children either go to a Boys Grammar School or a Girls Grammar School. There are
grammar schools in Northern Ireland and some parts of England.

The school year

The school year begins on 1 September (or 1 August if a term starts in August).The
school year runs from September to July and is 39 weeks long. The school holidays are:
October 1 week ;Christmas 2 weeks; February 1 week; Easter 2 weeks; May 1
week; Summer 6 weeks.

School day
School lasts from 9 am until 3.20 pm. Lessons are 1 hour and 15 minutes long. There is a
break in the morning at 11.40 am which lasts 20 minutes. At break time, students usually eat
a snack. Lunch is at 1.15 pm until 2 pm. Students stay in school and they either
bring their own lunch in a lunch box or they can buy lunch from the school
canteen. Number of students can vary from 500 students in primary school to
1500 students in secondary school.

The classrooms and the school uniforms

Teachers have their own classrooms and it is the students that change rooms after every
lesson. Depending on your level in a subject you will be put in different sets. For example, if
you are good at Spanish you will be in set 1, but if you are bad at English you will be in set 5.
The school uniform varies from school to school but most schools have one. On certain
days you can wear what you want. For example, to raise money for charity. It stops children
worrying about what to wear, and teachers believe that it makes students more disciplined.

With those things being said, we can say that the British educational
system is one the most, if not the most, popular and appreciated
educational system in the world, with a long history and with some of
the oldest and the most well-known universities, colleges and schools,
with top students and great teachers.