The British education system may seem bewildering at first glance,
but
it’s full of tradition and strict rules. Education principles differ
slightly in the four countries which constitute the UK, so we will
provide you with the basic information on school institutions.
How does National Curriculum work?
The National Curriculum is constructed in five Key Stages:
Key Stage 1 - for pupils aged between 5 and 7 years old
Key Stage 2 - Years 3 to 6 - for pupils aged: 8 and 11 years old
Key Stage 3 -Years 7 to 9 - for pupils aged : 12 and 14 years old
Key Stage 4 - Years 10 to 11 - for pupils aged:15 and 16 years old
Key Stage 5 - Years 12 to 13 - for pupils aged:17 and 18 years old.
In state schools each year that a pupil studies is given a number.
Primary education starts in Year 1. Most pupils begin their secondary
education at the age of 11 (Year 7)
At the age of 16 (the end of Key stage 4
and Year 11), all pupils take
a series of exams called the General Certificate of Secondary
Education (GCSE), usually in about eight to ten
subjects, which
must include English and Mathematics. Key Stage 5 is
for pupils
aged 16-18 (sometimes 19) and most schools take Advanced
Level
exams after a two-year course.
Almost all HMC Projects Scholars enter the first year of Key Stage 5.
All pupils entering Year 12 (of the thirteen years of the National
Curriculum) are beginning new courses at this point in their
education.
In Scotland, pupils move to secondary education at the age of 12.
At
the age of 16 they take exams called Standard Grades and then
move on to
Highers and Advanced Highers. These are very similar
to the English
Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level courses.
Early Years:
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..Education is compulsory for all children between the
ages of 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) and 16.
FE is not compulsory and covers non-advanced education which can be taken at further (including tertiary) education colleges and HE institutions (HEIs).
The fifth stage, HE, is study beyond GCE A levels and their
equivalent which, for most full-time students, takes place in universities and other HEIs and colleges.Early Years Education In England since September 2010, all three and four year olds are entitled to15 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of
the year.
Early Years education takes place in a variety of settings including state nursery schools, nursery classes and reception classes within primary schools, as well as settings outside the state sector such as voluntary pre-schools, privately run nurseries
or childminders.
In the UK, there are four types of state schools. First is the
community school, which is run by the local authority, sometimes
offering their facilities and providing services like childcare and
adult learning classes.
There are also foundation and trust schools. Foundation schools have
their own governing body, which employs the staff and sets the
admissions criteria; while a trust school is a type
of foundation school
which forms a charitable trust with an outside partner. Voluntary-aided
schools are mainly religious or ‘faith’ schools, although anyone can
apply for a place.
As with foundation schools, the governing body
employs the staff and sets the admission criteria. Voluntary-controlled
schools are similar to voluntary-aided schools, but are run by the local
authority
Primary School
The primary stage covers three age ranges: nursery(under 5),
infant (5 to 7 or 8) (Key Stage 1) and junior (up to 11 or 12)(Key Stage 2)but in Scotland and Northern Ireland there is generally no distinction between infant and junior schools.
In Wales, although the types of school are the same, the Foundation Phase has brought together what was previously known as the Early Years (from 3 to 5-year-olds) and Key Stage 1 (from 5 to 7-year-olds) of the National Curriculum to create one phase of education for children aged between three and seven.
In England, primary schools generally cater for 4-11 year olds.
Some primary schools may have a nursery or a children’s center attached to cater for younger children
Secondary School
Public provision of secondary education in an area may consist of a combination of different types of school, the pattern reflecting historical circumstance and the policy adopted by the local authority.
Comprehensive schools largely admit pupils without reference to ability or aptitude and cater for all the children in a neighborhood, but in some areas they co-exist with other types of schools, for example grammar schools. Academies, operating in England, are publicly funded independent schools.
University preparation in the UK
At
the age of sixteen, following two years of study, students may take
A-Levels (Advanced Level examinations) required for university
entrance in the UK. Over these two years following secondary school
education, students specialize in three or four subjects that are
usually relevant to the degree subject they wish to follow at
university.
At
the end of the first year, students take AS level examinations. They
continue with three or four of these subjects in the second year
and convert them into full A level qualifications at the end of the
year. A-Levels are state examinations. All British universities
recognize A-Levels results.
The UK Curriculum
1. A broad and balanced curriculum
A wide range of subjects which include arts, science and humanities are
covered in the British Curriculum. Students learn the basics of numeracy
and literacy at the foundation stage of the curriculum. At primary
level, students are taught the fundamentals of mathematics and English.
Science, technology, humanities and arts subjects are also introduced as
multi-disciplinary topics and integrated in school projects. The
curriculum aims to hone students’ higher order thinking skills and
encourage independent learning as they prepare for the (I)GCSE
examination
2. Organized into Key Stages
The British Curriculum is divided into blocks of years called
‘Key
Stages’ (KS). Students are formally assessed at the end
of each Key
Stage. The first Key Stage is Early Years
(Ages 2 to 5). After that,
students enter primary level and
complete KS1 (Ages 5 to 7) and KS2
(Ages 7 to 11).
Secondary levels consist of KS3 (Ages 11 to 14) and KS4
(Ages 14 to 16). At pr-university level, students go through
KS5 from
the ages of 16 to 18. The Key Stages provide
teachers a clear overview
of a student’s academic progress
and solutions to help students achieve
their desired academic
goals.
3. Child-centered and Personalizes
Teachers have the opportunity to be creative with lesson planning which
results in differentiated outcomes and a range of achievements. As the
curriculum covers many subject areas, students are encouraged to focus
on the subjects they are good at while receiving support in subjects they find difficult.
They are also taught to not only memorize facts but
to gain a deeper understanding of what they are
learning
4. Culminates in globally qualifications
Students who are taught the British Curriculum sit for the (I) GCSE
examinations at the end of Key Stage 4 and A Levels at the end of
Key
Stage 5.
This Key Stage is also referred to as Years 12 and 13 or the
Sixth Form. Both (I)GCSE and A Levels are recognized worldwide and opens
up many opportunities to students when it comes to higher education.
In
addition, these qualifications are highly regarded by universities
and
companies in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world.
5. Education beyond the classroom
Although academics play a huge role in the British Curriculum,
students
have the chance to pursue their passions and interests in
extracurricular activities. Activities such as team sports and
performing arts are widely available in schools which provide the
curriculum.
The spirit of competition and camaraderie is also a strong
feature of British boarding schools in the United Kingdom and their
international branches. Students are also encouraged to develop skills
in debating, discussing, questioning and problem-solving, which are
important skills that will help greatly when they enter university and