Education System

Education in the United Kingdom

Education is compulsory for all children in Britain from the age of 5 to 16. The academic year runs from September to July and is divided into 3 terms.

Autumn Term:

from the beginning of September to mid-December. The Autumn Term is also known as the Michaelmas Term in the private sector.

Spring Term:

from the beginning of January to mid/late March (depending on the dates of Easter). The Spring Term is also known as the Lent Term in the private sector.

Summer Term:

from early/mid April to mid July.

Each term is divided by a one-week break called half term, usually at the end of October, mid-February and the end of May.

There are two parallel school systems in England, the state sector and the private sector.

The State Sector

Schools in the state sector are financed by the government and administered through local education authorities, although many schools now receive their funding direct from the government and manage their own finances without local authority control. No financial contribution to a child's education is required from parents.  Broadly speaking, secondary education (from age 11 onwards) is comprehensive, meaning that schools accept children of all academic levels, and are, in the main, co-educational.  However, there are still some grammar schools which select only the more academically gifted children on the basis of an examination and these tend to be single sex schools.

The Private Sector

Schools in the private sector are known as independent or public schools. They rely for finance solely on fees charged to parents and are free to set their own curriculum.  In independent primary, or preparatory, schools, children study towards the Common Entrance examination, which is the basis for entry to independent senior school.  Independent senior schools set their own entry standards and mark the Common Entrance papers in accordance with their own schemes.

In boarding schools children live at school during term time, only returning home at half term and during the main holidays (Christmas, Easter and Summer).  Students may also spend one or two weekends per term at home (or, in the case of children from overseas, with guardian families) and these weekend breaks are called exeats.  Most schools have fixed dates for exeats, although some allow children and parents to choose their own exeat weekends.

As children live at school, there is a wide range of extra-curricular clubs and activities, such as astronomy, chess, computers, debating, public speaking and photography.  Music and drama play a large part of school life outside the classroom - children are encouraged to learn to play a musical instrument or join a choir.  Sport is also very much to the fore and nowadays the traditional games such as football, rugby, cricket, tennis, netball and hockey are complemented by activities such as aerobics, canoeing, horse-riding, rock-climbing, squash and swimming.

Preparatory Schools

Many prep schools specialise in preparing (hence the name) pupils for the Common Entrance examination for senior schools.  Boys usually take this at the age of 13; girls at 11 or 12.  Other prep schools, especially in cities where there are several day schools, will expect their pupils to leave at the age of 11.  Many parents choose prep schools simply to give their children a good foundation for their secondary education, without necessarily intending them to go on to independent senior schools.

Today's prep schools take the best from both traditional and modern educational methods.  They are aware of the National Curriculum, though they do not have to stick to it.  Unlike state primary schools, they employ specialist teachers to teach individual subjects, especially to older pupils.  They have smaller classes than state schools - typically between 15 and 20 to a class - so that teachers can give more time and attention to individual needs.  For fuller information, see The Prep Schools Guide www.prepschools.co.uk.

Senior Schools

Senior schools cater for pupils aged between 11 (or 13) and 18. Many of them also have their own, or linked, junior schools. The choice is very wide: single-sex schools for girls or boys only, boys' schools which admit girls at the age of 16, and co-educational schools for parents who want girls and boys to be educated together.

Sixth Form Colleges

Independent sixth form colleges offer an alternative environment for sixth-form education and can be an attractive option for students who are looking for a different style of education.  Typical students for whom a sixth-form college would be a good choice would be those where entry to a school sixth-form is not appropriate or in situations where entry to a mainstream school is not possible, for example, halfway through a two-year GCSE or A Level course. They are also useful for overseas students aged 18+ who wish to take A levels but would not, in view of their age, be accepted by a school sixth-form. Most colleges offer resit and revision courses as well as full-time one- and two-year GCSE and A Level courses.

Staff at sixth form colleges are highly qualified and may even be examiners in their subjects.  Sixth form college tutors aim to motivate students so that they feel they are working together, rather than the more formal teacher/pupil relationship found in schools.

Tuition at sixth form college is in small groups with special emphasis given to exam technique and study skills. Attendance at lessons and academic progress are strictly monitored, but the overall atmosphere is generally less formal than in a school and students are treated as adults.  Students are encouraged to take some of the responsibility for their own planning and progress and this can be an invaluable step towards university education.  Most colleges are located in major cities and a few have their own residential accommodation (Boarding Colleges), but most are day colleges. Where there is no boarding provision, the college can normally advise on suitable accommodation for students living away from home.

Many schools are small, while the larger ones are often divided into houses of between 40 and 60 pupils each. The traditional grammar schools usually cater for day pupils only and they select children for their academic ability by examination, usually in January, for entry at 11+.  Many schools, including the so-called "public schools", admit both boarders and day pupils of a wide range of abilities. Most stay on after 16 into the sixth form and go on to higher education at colleges and universities.  Most independent schools offer a wide choice of examination subjects at GCE Advanced level, though an increasing number now offer vocational courses (GNVQ).  Some students leave at 16 to go to further education or sixth form colleges. Others, who are not going on to further study, will leave at 16 or 18 having received an all-round education fitting them well for their future working life.