EDUCATION
Parents are required by law to ensure that their children receive full-time
education between the ages of 5 and 16 in Great Britain and between 4
and 16 in Northern Ireland.
Schools
About 94 per cent of pupils in the UK receive free education paid for from
public funds, while 6 per cent attend independent fee-paying schools.
State schools
In England and Wales state schools are classified into three broad
categories. Community schools are mainly schools that were traditionally
owned and funded by Local Education Authorities (LEAs). Foundation
schools include many of the former grant-maintained schools. Voluntary
schools are divided into controlled and aided, of which many are
connected to a particular religious faith. In Northern Ireland, although all
state schools are open to all religions, most Protestant children attend
controlled schools, managed by education and library boards, while most
Catholic children attend voluntary-maintained schools.
Primary schools
In England and Wales, all children must attend school no later than the
start of the term after their fifth birthday. Primary schools consist mainly
of infant schools for children aged 5 to 7, junior schools for those aged 7 to
11, or combined junior and infant schools for both groups.
Secondary schools
In January 2004, 88 per cent of secondary pupils in the maintained sector
in England and all such pupils in Wales attended comprehensive schools.
All Scottish state pupils also attended non-selective schools.
Secondary education in Northern Ireland is currently organised largely on
selective lines, with grammar schools admitting pupils on the basis of ’11plus’ transfer tests in English, mathematics and science.
Independent schools
Independent schools are not funded by the state and obtain most of their
finances from fees paid by parents. Independent schools are required to
register with the appropriate government department and are subject to
inspection.
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) represents the seven independent
schools associations in the United Kingdom and has overall responsibility
for the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).
Curriculum
All state schools in the United Kingdom must provide religious education,
but parents have the right to withdraw their children from these classes.
Sex and relationship education, including education about HIV/AIDS and
other sexually transmitted disease, is compulsory in UK secondary schools
and voluntary in primary schools.
Children follow the National Curriculum in England, the National
Curriculum for Wales in Wales and the Northern Ireland Curriculum in
Northern Ireland.
The programmes of study represent a statutory minimum – schools have
flexibility to add other elements, to choose how they teach the content of
the curriculum, and to focus more or less time on particular aspects.
There are four Key Stages covering the ages of compulsory schooling. Key
Stages 1 and 2 are studied in primary schools, and Stages 3 and 4 in
secondary school.
Organisation of compulsory school years
Attainment
expected in
Pupil
Year group
final year of
group
England and Wales
Key Stage 1
5-7
1-2
Level 2
Key Stage 2
7-11
3-6
Level 4
Key Stage 3
11-14
7-9
Level5/6
Key Stage 4
14-16
10-11
GCSE
Northern Ireland
Key Stage 1
4/5-8
1-4
Level 2
Key Stage 2
8-11
5-7
Level 3/4
Key Stage 3
11-14
8-10
Level 5/6
Key Stage 4
14-16
11-12
GCSE
Scotland
( Curriculum following
5-7
P1-P3
Level A
national guidelines from
7-8
P3-P4
Level B
ages 5 to 14 )
8-10
P4-P6
Level C
NQ
10-11
P6-P7
Level D
11-13
P7-S2
Level E
14-15
S3-S4
Standard Grade
QUALIFICATIONS
+Examinations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland:
- 16-General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE)
- 17-General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary (AS level)
- 18-General Certificate of Education Advanced (A level)
+in Scotland:
- 16-the National Qualification (NQ)
- 17&18-Access, Intermediate 1 and 2, Higher and Advanced Higher
qualifications
ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
+ State schools in England and Wales are maintained by LEAs (the local
education authorities). In Northern Ireland, all schools are funded by the
education and library boards.
+A number of government departments take responsibility for education
policy:
- the DfES (Department for Education and Skills) in England
-the Welsh Assembly Government Department for Training and
Education
-the Scottish Executive Education Department, the Scottish
Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department
-the Department of Education and the Department for Employment
and Learning in Northern Ireland
+LEAs are responsible for pre-16 provision in Great Britain
+The DfES funds post-16 education institutions directly
CATEGORIES OF SCHOOLS
+There are 4 main types of schools in England:
- Community : Community schools are run by the local authority,
which employs school staff, owns the land and buildings, and sets the
entrance criteria (such as catchment area) that decide which children are
eligible for a place).
-Foundation: Foundation schools are run by a governing body
which employs the staff and sets the entrance criteria. Land and buildings
are owned either by the governing body or by a charitable
foundation. Trust schools are similar, but are run together with an
outside body – usually a business or charity – which has formed an
educational trust.
-Voluntary Aided: Voluntary-aided schools are religious or faith
schools. Just like foundation schools, the governing body employs the staff
and sets the entrance criteria. School buildings and land are usually
owned by a charity, often a church.
-Voluntary Controlled: Voluntary-controlled schools are a cross
between community and voluntary-aided schools. The local authority
employs the staff and sets the entrance criteria, like a community school,
but the school land and buildings are owned by a charity, often a church,
which also appoints some members of the governing body.
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS
Key stage National Curriculum Tests:
-Key Stage 1(KS1)-during year 2(ages 6-7)
- Key Stage 2(KS2)-towards the year 6(ages 10-11)
- Key Stage 3(KS3) - towards the year 9(ages 13-14)
- Key Stage 4(KS4)- during both year 10 and 11
REFERENCES:
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/types_of_schools/
2. https://www.gov.uk/types-of-school/overview
3. http://www.bbka.org.uk/learn/examinations__assessments
... Stage 5-7 1- 2 Level Key Stage 7 -11 3-6 Level Key Stage 11 -14 7-9 Level5/6 Key Stage 14 -16 10 -11 GCSE Northern Ireland Key Stage 4/5-8 1- 4 Level Key Stage 8 -11 5-7 Level 3/4 Key Stage 11 -14 8 -10 Level... Stage 14 -16 11 -12 GCSE Scotland ( Curriculum following 5-7 P1-P3 Level A national guidelines from 7-8 P3-P4 Level B ages to 14 ) 8 -10 P4-P6 Level C NQ 10 -11 P6-P7 Level D 11 -13 P7-S2 Level E 14 -15 ... Stage 1( KS1)-during year 2(ages 6-7) - Key Stage 2(KS2)-towards the year 6(ages 10 -11 ) - Key Stage 3(KS3) - towards the year 9(ages 13 -14 ) - Key Stage 4(KS4)- during both year 10 and 11 REFERENCES: