The system of education in the UK is comprised of four parts. These are primary education, secondary education, further education and higher education. The compulsory education in the UK mainly begins at the age of 5 when a child enters an infant school primary school and lasts until the age of 16.

Besides being divided into parts, the British education system has also five key stages. The first stage is for children from the age of 5 to the age of 7. It is provided by infant schools or primary schools. The second stage is provided by primary or junior schools for those from the age of 7 to 11. The third stage is for students from the age of 11 to 14. It is provided by middle schools, high schools or secondary schools. The fourth stage is for students from the age of 14 to 16, provided by upper schools or secondary schools. There is also the fifth stage for students from the age of 16 to 18 who want to continue their education. It is provided by upper schools, secondary schools or sixth form colleges.

At the end of each stage, students are assessed. The Most important assessment is associated with the fourth key stage of the study when students pursue their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). After the GCSE is completed, students have to make a decision about their future path. It is possible to go directly into the working world, to go onto further education or choose a higher education path.

Primary education in the UK

Children in the UK must attend school when they rich the age of five. The exception is Northern Ireland, where compulsory education begins at the age of four.

Primary education includes the first two key stages. So the first two years of study are associated with pre-primary education and the following years, until a child reaches the age of 11, are associated with junior school education.

Though each country of the UK has its own curriculum, much of the content is similar. Nevertheless, there are some slight differences.

In England, the National Curriculum includes such subjects as English, foreign language, maths, science, art and design, computing, design and technology, geography, history, music and physical education.

The Welsh curriculum is focused on applying literacy and numeracy across the whole curriculum. Also, it identifies the different areas of learning such as personal and social development, well-being and cultural diversity, language, literacy and communication skills, mathematical development, Welsh language development (as the first or second language depending on a school), knowledge and understanding of the world, physical development and creative development.

In Scotland, the primary school curriculum includes expressive arts, health and wellbeing, languages, mathematics, religious and moral education, sciences, social studies, and technologies.

Curriculum in the Northern Ireland is focused on studying language and literacy, mathematics and numeracy, the arts, the world around us, personal development and mutual understanding, religious education and physical education.

Parents can choose to educate their children at state or private schools. Each state school in the country is entitled to provide a child with a free place. Private schools in the UK are not free.

There are different types of state schools in the UK. Community schools are run by the local authority and have strong links with local communities. Foundation schools in the UK are run by their own governing body. There are also trust schools that are considered to be a type of foundation schools. Such schools form a charitable trust with an outside partner. There are also voluntary-aided and voluntary-controlled schools.

Secondary education in the UK

Students in secondary schools study a wide range of subjects, including English, Maths, Science, Design and Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), History, Geography, Modern Foreign Languages, Art and Design, Music, Citizenship, Physical Education. In some cases, Sex and Relationship Education and Religious education are included in the curriculum as well.

The secondary school in the UK ends with a GCSE state examinations. GCSE’s take a total of 2 years and mark the end of compulsory education for students in the UK. In the most cases, students pass about 10 GCSEs in different subjects, including mathematics and English language. The results of such examinations are crucial. They will show if a student can apply for further education, pursue higher education in a university or leave school to become a part of the working world.

Further education

Further education in the UK is provided by various educational institutions. Many of them offer the same courses as schools and higher education institutions. There are also vocational and technical courses created those who prefer to learn in a vocational context. Such courses have the aim to meet the needs of employers. There are three main pathways provided by the further education sector. The first one is the academic pathway that includes AS and A levels, International Baccalaureate and undergraduate study. The academic pathway can lead to a job, an apprenticeship or university.

A student can also choose the applied general or technical pathway that provides students with national vocational qualifications, as well as business and technical qualifications. Such pathway can also result in a job, higher apprenticeships, or higher education at college or university.

The third pathway is known as the occupational or professional one. The pathway is provided by apprenticeships or through training courses for employees and can lead to higher apprenticeships or a job or promotion.

The sector of further education has also a range of courses for international students, such as English language courses, summer schools, international diplomas, foundation years and top up courses.

Higher Education

Higher education in the UK is not compulsory and is not free. Nevertheless, there are a variety of scholarships and loans available to students who wish to study in the UK. Furthermore, education in the UK is not as expensive as it may seem first. For example, it is twice as low as in the US. Furthermore, it is important to understand that education in the UK usually takes less time.

It will take just three years to complete an undergraduate degree program and to get a BA (Bachelor of Arts), a BEng (Bachelor of Engineering), or BSc (Bachelor of Science).

After a student completes the undergraduate degree, it is possible to apply for a postgraduate program that generally takes from a year to two years of study. The same concerns Ph.D. program.

Unlike school education, university of college education in the UK provides students with the ability to choose their own educational pathway and to learn more about a subject or job they really enjoy.

Furthermore, higher education in the UK provides students with numerous advantages. These are academic achievements at a university as well as some social advantages. Higher education in the UK involves students in a wide number of out-of -school activities, allows to find new friends and to get insight into future careers.

The United Kingdom is known as the second most popular destinations for international students in the world. With high-class institutions in every corner, education in the UK was associated with excellence for hundreds of years. Even today the UK stands out from other English-speaking countries as it has much more to offer.

British education is about sharing cultural experience and providing equal opportunities to everyone. People from different parts of the world come here to study. In the UK, you will meet students from such countries as China, India, Nigeria, Malaysia, USA, Germany, Greece, France and many more. It means that the society in the UK is multicultural and all religions and faiths are represented in some way.

The UK provides its students with world-class and high-quality degrees. It is important to understand that despite education here is mainly associated with such recognizable names as Oxford and Cambridge, the traditional standard of excellence carries through to many of educational institutions throughout the UK.

Though it is believed that education in the UK can cost you a fortune, the truth is that tuition in the UK is twice as low as the tuition in the US. Furthermore, getting a degree in the UK takes less time, as most degree programs will take you three years to complete and when it comes to the master’s program, it generally takes between one and two years. Furthermore, there are a variety of scholarships and loans available to students who wish to study in the UK.

If you come to study in the UK, you can enjoy an advantage of working here. International students are allowed to work up to 10 hours a week during school term and when school is out of term, it is possible to work full-time.

Also, the UK is a great place to start your exploration of Europe. It will take you just about few hours to get to European countries such as Italy. The UK offers a lot of low-cost flights to Europe, as well as there is the Channel Tunnel that connects the island with the Eurasia.

The system of education in the UK is flexible, so you can study in a way that suits your lifestyle and career goals. Studying in Britain provides you with invaluable experience, allows broadening your horizons and discovering new perspectives.

British education is admired and respected all across the globe. Centuries of experience and innovative approaches to teaching make the UK stand out from other English-speaking countries. That is probably why Britain is known as the second most popular country for international students. Here are some facts that will help you to see what makes education in the UK one of the best in the world.

Facts for International Students

1. As the UK is considered to be the heart of the English-speaking world, there is a perfect English language support provided to international students to help them complete their courses successfully.
2. In comparison to other countries, getting a degree in the UK usually takes less time allowing you to save money. Generally, it takes 3 years to complete Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree course usually takes a year to complete.
3. Students in the UK have a great possibility to become a part of the working world while they study. It is allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during an academic year and full-time during vacations.
4. The UK provides international students with a lot of opportunities and benefits, including discounts on stationery, books, entertainment, and travel. So education in the UK is not just about the high level of teaching, it is about fun and entertainment as well.
5. There is a great number of scholarships in the UK available both for local and international students, as well as postgraduate and undergraduate ones.
6. International students who stay in the UK for more than 6 months can enjoy the benefit of free subsidized healthcare provided by the National Health Service.
7. The UK provides students with the ability to choose from four culturally and geographically diverse countries. These are England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Interesting Facts about Schools

1. The first in the UK and the oldest continuously operating school in the world, The King’s School in Canterbury, was founded in 597 AD. There have been various sorts of schools in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales for many centuries. Nevertheless, until the Education Act of 1944, secondary education in the UK was not free.
2. One of the most interesting facts about schools in the UK is that some of them open and close several times during their history. For example, there is a local school situated on Caldey Island that saw a number of openings and closures during its long history because of rises and falls in the number of children on the island.
3. The Nottingham Academy that was created from the merger of three schools is considered to be the biggest one in the UK, as well as the biggest one in Europe. The population of the Nottingham Academy is 3,600 pupils, about 200 teachers and more than 100 administrators and assistants. Nevertheless, it is not the biggest school in the world. There is a City Montessori school in Lucknow, in India that has a population of more than 32,000 pupils.
4. The smallest school in the UK has a population of fewer than half-dozen of children. The school is Holy Island Church of England First School. It proves that any place where people gather to learn together can be called a school.
5. The best school in the UK, the school with the greatest exam results, is Chelmsford county high school. Nevertheless, it is hard to judge the quality of the school as any school can be rated in accordance with different features, such as best classrooms, best teachers or best lunches. Perhaps, you can say that the best school is Springfield Elementary or Bikini Bottom Elementary. Just because these schools are not real, does not mean they are bad.
6. There are many students who will say that their school is the worst. Those students do not have a clue about Victorian schools that existed in the UK. How about classrooms divided by curtains and 100 students in a class? Or how about no chance to look at the window and to daydream for a couple of minutes because windows are built high up in the walls? Your school is not as bad as you think it is.

Fun Facts about Universities

1. Researchers at Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick showed the world how to go green in the weirdest way. They designed and developed a car that was made of potatoes, steered by carrots and used chocolate instead of gasoline. Yes, it was exactly the edible F3 racing car that showed that education in the UK can be really funny and genius.
2. The University of York has a population of more than 15, 000 students. Also, the university has quite a massive population of ducks. There are approximately 14 ducks for every 1/4 of an acre on the campus. If you think it is cute, do not jump to conclusions. Some ducks are quite aggressive and there is one red and a yellow head duck named ‘Beer Monster’ because of its rude behavior.
3. One of the best examples of the fight against the system belongs to Lord Byron who studied at Cambridge University in the 19th century. He dreamed of a pet dog and there was one he tried to keep during his study but unfortunately, he was made to get rid of it. So instead of a pet dog, Lord Byron decided to pet a bear. There was no legal argument against petting a bear.
4. The UK’s oldest student newspaper started in 1887 by the author of Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Jekyll and Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson, who studied at the University of Edinburgh.
5. There is a university in the UK where you will be able to find a patch of grass full of tombstones that stand right next to the admin block. Previously, there was a church where Coventry University is now situated, so the patch is classed as sanctified ground and that is why tombstones cannot be removed.

Though the state school system in the United Kingdom begins at the age of five, working parents can enroll their children in preschool education. Preschool education in the UK is provided by numerous educational institutions, such as childcare centers, playgroups, nursery schools and nursery classes within primary schools. Preschools are working from Monday to Friday, generally from 7 am to 6 pm, allowing parents work a full day. The main aim of preschool education is to develop child’s grasp of the language, numbers, and colors, as well as to provide them with early childhood interaction.

History of Preschool Education in the UK

In the 19th century, with the growth of the Industrial Revolution and numbers of factories opened because of it, the nursery school movement began. As mothers were expected to work, there was a need to provide young children with care. So in 1816, the first nursery school was opened. It provided care and education for the young children of cotton mill workers. It is worth to mention that first nursery schools were privately run.

In 1870, mandatory education for children who reached the age of 5 was introduced. With the course of time, there has been a notable increase in demand for preschool provision as the society changed rapidly. There was an increase in dual income families, single parents, teen parents.

Preschool Education Today

Though preschool education for children under 5 is not compulsory, it is very popular in the UK. In 1998, a government scheme that makes provision for part-time, ‘early years’ education for children who reached the age of 4 was introduced.

Children in the UK can attend preschools for three two-and-a-half hour sessions a week at a registered play scheme or school of the parents’ choice. It is worth to mention that the provision of preschool education in the UK is considered to be the lowest in Europe. In comparison to the UK, 95% of children in such countries as Belgium and France attend nursery schools. Children from the age of 3 to 5 can attend local state nursery schools, nursery schools attached to primary schools or registered play schemes.

Tough Local Education authority states that nursery schools are not mandatory, it must ensure that there are free places at play schemes if there aren’t enough state nursery schools.

Generally, nursery education in the UK can be provided on a first-come, first served basis. Furthermore, parents can choose from a variety of preschools and apply for a number of preschool educational institutions as they have no catchment area. Nevertheless, most parents in the UK prefer to focus on state nursery schools attached to primary schools to ensure that their child will have a place in the primary school later. It is wise to register a child as soon as possible.

The Cost of Preschool Education

If you are unable to enroll your child in a state-aided nursery school, you will have to pay for the attendance. The cost of private nursery schools varies. Generally, it is ranged from £50 a week to £15,000 a year. In average, a short-term at preschool that includes 25 hours of attendance will cost you about £100.

There are many preschools in the UK that accept children from the age of 2. Just note that if you want your child to be enrolled in such early education, it is required that your child has to be toilet trained. Also, note that if you want your child to be enrolled in all day nursery school, a packed lunch provided by the school is required and it will cost you some extra money.

There are about 800 nursery schools in the UK that use the world-famous Montessori method of teaching. Some of them allow you to choose from a number of morning or afternoon sessions.

Advantages of Attending Preschool

Though preschools such as playgrounds generally do not provide children with education and are focused on educational games, statistic shows that children who attend play schools are generally brighter and usually progress much faster when school begins than those who do not.

Nursery schools are highly recommended for families with children who came from overseas and do not use the English language at home. In this case, attending a nursery school will help your child to assimilate faster, to integrate into the local community and to get prepared to primary school.