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The Education System
Both public and private schools form the British education
system. Primary covers 5 to 11 year olds. Secondary schools teach
11-16/18 year olds. It is common for 16-18 year olds to be taught
in sixth form or Tertiary College.
Schools in the UK conform to guidelines laid down
in the National Curriculum.
The National Curriculum is divided into four stages.
They are called Key Stages.
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Key Stages
| Key Stage |
Type of School |
Year Group |
Age Range |
| |
|
Nursery |
3-4 years |
| Reception |
4-5 years |
| Key Stage 1 |
Infant |
Year 1 |
5-6 years |
| Year 2 |
6-7 years |
| Key Stage 2 |
Junior |
Year 3 |
7-8 years |
| Year 4 |
8-9 years |
| Year 5 |
9-10 years |
| Year 6 |
10-11 years |
| Key Stage 3 |
Secondary |
Year 7 |
11-12 years |
| Year 8 |
12-13 years |
| Year 9 |
13-14 years |
| Key Stage 4 |
Secondary |
Year 10 |
14-15 years |
| Year 11 |
15-16 years |
| |
Secondary Post 16 |
Year 12 |
16-17 years |
| Year 13 |
17-18 years |
Pupils will take GCSE at Year 11 and then can legally leave school
Pupils will take 'A' level examinations or follow a GNVQ
National Literacy and Numeracy Hour has been introduced at primary
level and National Literacy has been introduced at Key Stage 3.
The majority of Local Education Authorities run on a 2 Tier System,
however, some do run on a 3 Tier System as shown below.
| 2 Tier System |
| Type of School |
Age Range |
| Primary (including nursery, infant
& junior) |
3 - 11 years |
| Secondary |
11- 16/18 years |
| 3 Tier System |
| Type of School |
Age Range |
| First |
3 - 9 years |
| Middle |
9 - 13 years |
| High |
13 - 18 years |
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Curriculum Subjects
Religious Education must also be covered within the
curriculum framework.
|
|
Key Stage 1
|
Key Stage 2
|
Key Stage 3
|
Key Stage 4
|
|
| Age (years) |
5-7 |
7-11 |
11-14 |
14-16 |
|
| Year groups |
1-2 |
3-6 |
7-9 |
10-11 |
National Curriculum
core subjects |
| English |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| Mathematics |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| Science |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| Design & Technology |
* |
* |
* |
* |
National Curriculum
non-core foundation subjects |
Information & Communication
Technology |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| History |
* |
* |
* |
|
| Geography |
* |
* |
* |
|
| Modern Foreign Languages |
|
|
* |
* |
| Art & Design |
* |
* |
* |
|
| Music |
* |
* |
* |
|
| Physical Education |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| Citizenship |
|
|
* |
* |
* =
statutory
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SAT's
These are Standardised Attainment Tests which are
carried out regularly to measure pupil performance against the National
Curriculum. These tests take place at ages of 7, 11 and 14. GCSEs
are taken at end of Year 11, A Level, GNVQ and NVQ examinations
are generally taken in the sixth form.
Regulation of the above system comes under the
Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED).
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OFSTED
The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED)
is an independent government department whose responsibility is
to improve standards of achievement and quality of education through
regular inspections and public report. All schools are inspected
regularly, at least once every 6 years and a public report is published
with the findings. For further information contact: www.ofsted.gov.uk.
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Terms and Holidays
Terms:
There are 3 terms per academic year starting in September,
which cover 195 days throughout the year:
- Autumn Term - First week September to 3rd week December
- Spring Term - First week in January until Easter
- Summer Term - Two weeks after Easter until third week of July
Holidays:
- 2 weeks at Christmas
- 2 weeks at Easter
- 6 weeks in July/August
In the middle of each term is one week's holiday
known as half term, they are in October, February and May.
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