The school-system in England

Full-time education is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16 in England, Scotland and Wales (4 and 16 in Northern Ireland). The system of education is divided into three stages: Primary, Secondary and “Third”-further education. School uniforms are worn in most primary and secondary schools. Students never repeat a year in British system, but the may be sent to a vocation school or section.

Primary schools are divided into infant schools (age 5-7) and junior schools (7-11). In infant school there schooling is very elementary: reading, writing and numbers are taught. In the junior schools the children learn mathematics, English, music, art and handy work, science and nature study, history, geography and physical education (PE)

Secondary schools. When students transfer to a comprehensive Secondary school, they don’t take any examination, but their reports are sent on from Primary school. There are also grammar schools and secondary modern schools, pupils do have to pass an exam to go there.

Pupils in all State schools in England and Wales study 3 main subjects: English, Mathematics and Science. Foundation subjects are History, Geography, A Modern Language, Art, Music, Information Technology, Physical education. (Religious education is also taught)

Attainment tests are given at the ages 7,11,14,16. At the end of a 5-year course, at the age of 16, students sit the General Certificate of Secondary Education exams in as many subjects as possible. Weak students may only sit for three or four subjects, better students take ten subjects.

At the age of 16 about two third of these pupils leave school and get jobs or apprenticeships, about one-third stay at school until the age of 18 preparing themselves for higher education. (this is called the 6th form). At the age of 18, the students may go to a university, teacher training or advanced courses. This all is optional.

Different types of schools

State schools
Comprehensive schools. These schools are non-selective. They provide a wide range of education for all the children. Most children (93%) receive free education at these schools

Independent schools.
Public schools. A public school is an independent secondary school which is a charity and which belongs to one of the public school associations, the largest of which are: The Headmasters’ Conference (HMC) and the Girls’ School Association (GSA). All Public schools are boarding schools. At public schools there is usually a strict discipline, a strict hierarchy among the pupils and there are many traditions and rituals. Children are often put down for a place at birth and from the age of eight sent to preparatory schools which prepares them for the public-school entrance exam.

Private schools. The main difference between private and public schools is, that a private school is run to make a profit, and a public school is not.

Pupils in Britain come home from school much later then we do in the Netherlands, because schools offer extracurricular activities, such as sports, music lessons or drama groups, which in our country are organised privately out of school.