Education System of the UK

The education system in the UK is divided into four main parts, primary education, secondary education, further education and higher education. Children in the UK have to legally attend primary and secondary education which runs from about 5 years old until the student is 16 years old. The education system in the UK is also split into 4 "key stages" which breaks down as follows: key stage 1 from 5 to 7 years old, key stage 2 - 7 to 11 years old, key stage 3 - 11 to 14 years old, key stage 4 - 14 to 16 years old. Students are assessed at the end of each stage. The most important assessment occurs at age 16 when students pursue their GCSE's or General Certificate of Secondary Education. Once students complete their GCSE's they have the choice to go onto further education and then potential higher education, or finish school and go into the working world.

Primary Education: Primary education begins in the UK at age 5 and continues until age 11, comprising key stages one and two under the UK educational system. Primary schools usually include both girls and boys as pupils. Secondary schools may be either single-sex or co-educational.

Secondary Education: From age 11 to 16, students will enter secondary school for key stages three and four and to start their move towards taking the GCSE's. Primary and secondary education is obligatory in the UK; after age 16, education is optional. After five years of secondary education, students take examinations in a range of subjects at the level of General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). The GCSE is a single-subject examination set and marked by independent examination boards. Students usually take up to ten (there is no upper or lower limit) GCSE examinations in different subjects, including mathematics and English language.

After taking GCSEs, students may leave secondary schooling; alternatively, they may choose to continue their education at vocational or technical colleges, or they may take a higher level of secondary school examinations known as AS-Levels after an additional year of study. Following two years of study, students may take A-Level (short for Advanced Level) examinations, which are required for university entrance in the UK.

National Curriculum in The UK:By law, all children between ages 5 and 16 must receive a full-time education. The UK introduced a National Curriculum in 1992 and state schools are required to adhere to it until students reach age 16. However, independent schools are not obliged to do so. National Curriculum core subjects are: English, mathematics and science. Foundation subjects are design and technology; information and communication technology; history; geography; modern foreign languages; music; art and design; physical education; religious education; and citizenship.

Further Education:Once a student finishes secondary education they have the option to extend into further education to take their A-Levels or other such qualifications. UK students planning to go to college or university must complete further education.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1081