EDUCATION IN THE UK

The education system is divided into nursery (ages 3–4), primary education (ages 4–11), secondary education (ages 11–18) and higher education (ages 18+).

Full-time education is compulsory for all children aged between 5 and 16, either at school or otherwise, with a child beginning primary education during the school year he or she turns 5. At the age of 16, students sit national exams at the age of 16 known as GCSES. An exam in each subject is taken so you normally leave school with 10 GCSES which are graded from A* - F.

Students may then continue their secondary studies for a further two years (sixth form), leading most typically to A-level qualifications, although other qualifications and courses exist, including Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) qualifications or apprenticeships. The leaving age for compulsory education was raised to 18 by the Education and Skills Act 2008. Public schooling and sixth form education is paid for by taxes. England also has private schools and boarding schools where students both live and study.

All public schools in England are required to follow the National Curriculum, which is made up of twelve subjects. The core subjects, English, Mathematics and Science, are compulsory for all students aged 5 to 16. A range of other subjects, known as foundation subjects, are compulsory in one or more school years. They include Art & Design, Citizenship, Design & Technology, Geography, History Information & Communication Technology, Modern Foreign Languages, Music and Physical Education.

Higher education often begins with a three-year Bachelor’s degree (some courses are 4 years for example, modern language courses have a compulsory year abroad). Postgraduate degrees include master’s degrees and PhDs that usually take at least three years. Universities require a Royal Charter in order to issue degrees, and all but one are financed by the state via tuition fees, which cost up to £9,000 a term for English, Welsh and EU students. Oxford and Cambridge are the most famous universities in England and only accept exceptional students.