Independent Schools

Most parents choose to send their children to free state schools financed from public funds, but an increasing number of pupils attend fee-paying independent schools outside the state system. These are still a small separate but highly significant group that are financially self-supporting. In Britain there are about 2,500 independent schools catering for children of all ages.

The most important are the 'public schools' which accept pupils at about 12 or 13 usually on the basis of a fairly demanding examination called the Common Examination for Entrance to Public Schools (generally known as Common Entrance). There are about 500 public schools in England and Wales. Some of them, notably Eton, Harrow, Winchester and Rugby have long maintained a distinguished reputation. These schools for centuries have prepared students academically for higher education, typically at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and ultimately for leadership in British life. Preserving many of their old traditions, they have also undergone important changes. Today, they are less preoccupied with classics, more interested in science and engineering. Consequently, many more public school leavers now take engineering degrees.

Although a controversial element in British education and frequently accused of reinforcing social distinctions, these institutions remain popular.

There are also junior independent schools known as preparatory schools catering for boys and girls from 8 to 13. Many of them like public schools are boarding schools. The abbreviation prep. school is widely used.

The main features of the British school system are summed up in the chart that follows:

The school system

University and other higher education

'A' Levels: 15 % pass two subjects or more

16-18