an outline of british education

7/31/2019 An Outline of British Education

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Overview In the UK, education is compulsory from the

age of 5 to 16.

The Department of Education and Science.

The Local Education Authority (LEA) in each

county has considerable powers in planning

and administration.


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The National Curriculum The National Curriculum was introduced into

England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a

nationwide curriculum for primary and

Education Reform Act 1988.

Its aim is to ensure that all state schools have

a common curriculum. It does not apply to private schools.


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The school system Nursery education

Primary education (key stages 1 & 2)

Secondary education (key stages 3 & 4) Further education

Higher education

Adult education


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Nursery education Children do not have to go to school until

they reach the age of 5, but there is some

free nursery-school education before that.

Parents in many areas have also formed play

groups.


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Primary education (5 -11

years) Key stage 1: Infant schools (pupils aged from

5 to 7)

Key stage 2: Junior schools (from 8 to 11


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Secondary education

(11 -16 years) Most children (over 80%) go to a secondary

school at the age of 11.

These schools offer a wide choice of subjects.

At the age of 16, most students take the

General Certificate of Secondary Education

(GCSE).


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Further education (16-18

years) Students going to higher education or

professional training usually take the A-level

or International Baccalaureate.

GCSE.

It can take place either in the 6th form of a

secondary school or a separate sixth-formcollege.


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Private schools Also known as independent/public schools.

They are fee-paying and are usually very

expensive (less than 10% of all students go.

Many of these are boarding schools.


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Higher education

(18 years onward) Provided by universities, polytechnics,

colleges & institutes of higher education.

The typical first degree offered at Britishuniversities is the Bachelors de ree.(B.A./B.S.)

During a first degree, students are known asundergraduates.

Almost all undergraduate education is largelystate financed.


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Higher education

(18 years onward) Students who have completed a first degree

are eligible to undertake a postgraduate

degree, which includes:

Doctorate degree (typically taken in 3 yrs)

Postgraduate education is not automatically

financed by the State, and so admission is in

practice highly competitive.


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Adult education Adult education, continuing education or

lifelong learning is offered to students of all

ages.

undergraduate and postgraduate distance

learning programmes.

The Workers Educational Association offerslarge number of semi-recreational courses.

an outline of british education

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