THE UK

THE STRUCTURE OF
ED. SYSTEM

The education system in the UK is divided into four main parts, primary education, secondary education, further
education and higher education. Children in the UK have to legally attend primary and secondary education which runs
from about 5 years old until the student is 16 years old.
The education system in the UK is also split into "key stages" which breaks down as follows:
Key Stage 1: 5 to 7 years old
Key Stage 2: 7 to 11 years old
Key Stage 3: 11 to 14 years old
Key Stage 4: 14 to 16 years old
Primary school education begins in the UK at age 5 and continues until age 11, comprising key stages one and two
under the UK educational system. Some primary schools are split up into Infant and Junior levels. These are usually
separate schools on the same site. The infant age range (Key Stage 1) is from age 5 to 7. The Junior age range (Key Stage
2) is from age 7 to 11.
Years 7 and 8 are the first two years of secondary school education in the UK. In some independent schools they are
included in the Junior School, in others, they are part of the Senior School.  Under the UK school system, all students study
English, Maths, Sciences, a Humanity and a Modern Language.
Besides these subjects, each school has a list with optional subjects   and  students may choose a few subjects that interest
them. Year 9 is a very important year in the British school system, as most of the students make the transition from Junior
School to Senior School. It is also a very good foundation for the GCSE programme and it is an entry point to all
schools. Students study English, Maths, Sciences, Humanity and Languages. In addition, students choose a few subjects from
the optional subject list offered by each school. In the last two years of secondary education, which are called Year 10 and
Year 11, starting at age 14, students prepare for GCSE exams that are taken after two years (General Certificate of Secondary
Education).
In the UK school system, during the GCSE programme, students study between 9 and 12 subjects. Some of them are
compulsory (English, Math, 2/3 Sciences, History/Geography, a Modern Language etc.), some are chosen by each student
according to their abilities and preferences. At the end of the 2 year GCSE programme, following the examinations on each
studied subject, students receive their GCSE Certificates. The chosen subjects and the GCSE results are very important for
their Further Studies (A-Level or IB) and for their University admission.
In the UK school system, once a student reaches the age of 16, they can start a 2 year programme which leads to A
(Advanced) level examinations. Students specialise in 3 or 4 subjects, that are usually relevant to the degree subject they wish
to follow at university. A levels are state examinations and are recognised by all UK universities and by institutions
worldwide.At the end of Year 13, following the examinations in each subject, the students receive A level Certificates.
 TYPES OF SCHOOLS
•Faith Schools
•Free Schools
•Academies
•City Technology Colleges
•State Boardin Schools
•Private Schools
Special Schools:
Special schools with pupils aged 11 and older can specialise in 1 of the 4 areas of special educational needs
communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social, emotional and mental health, sensory and physical needs.
Faith Schools:
Faith schools have to follow the national curriculum,but they can choose what they teach in religious studies.Faith
schools may have different admissions criteria and staffing policies to state schools, although anyone can apply for a
place.
Free Schools:
Free schools are funded by the government but are not run by the local authority.They have more control over how they
do things.They’re ‘all-ability’ schools, so can not use academic selection processes like a grammar school.
Free schools can:
Set their own pay and conditions for staff. Change the length of school terms and the school day. They do not have to
follow the national curriculum.
Academies:
Academies receive funding directly from the government and are run by an academy trust. They have more
control over how they do things than community schools. Academies do not charge fees. Academies are
inspected by Ofsted.They have to follow the same rules on admissions,
special educational needs and exclusions as other state schools and students sit the same exams. Academies
have more control over how they do things,
for example they do not have to follow the national curriculum and can set their own term times. Some
schools choose to become academies. If a school funded by the local authority is judged as ‘inadequate’ by
Ousted then it must become an academy.

Academy Trusts and sponsors:

Academy trusts are not-for-profit companies. They employ the staff and have trustees who are responsible for
the performance of the academies in the trust. Trusts might run a single academy or a group of academies.
Some academies are supported by sponsors such as businesses, universities, other schools, faith groups or
voluntary groups. Sponsors work with the academy trust to improve the performance of their schools.

City Technology Colleges:

City technology colleges and ‘ the city college for the technology of the arts’ are independent schools in urban
areas that are free to go to. They’re funded by central government - companies can also contribute. City
technology colleges emphasize teaching science and technology. The city college for the technology of the
arts teaches technology in its application of performing and creative arts, for example by offering interactive
digital design courses.

State Boarding Schools:
State boarding schools provide free education but charge fees for boarding. Most state boarding
schools are academies, some are free schools and some are run by local authorities. State
boarding schools give priority to children who have a particular need to board and will assess
children’s suitability for boarding.Charities such as Buttle UK or the Royal National Children’s
Foundation can sometimes help with the cost of boarding.


Private Schools:
Private schools (also known as ‘independent schools’) charge fees to attend instead of being
funded by the government. Pupils do not have to follow the national curriculum. All private
schools must be registered with the government and are inspected regularly. Reports on private
Schools: All school reports are published online by the organization responsible for inspecting
them. Find out from the school which organization inspects them. Half of all independent
schools are inspected by Ofsted.The Independent Schools Inspectorate inspects schools that are
members of the associations that form the Independent Schools Council. Some other schools are
inspected by the School Inspection Service.
 GRADING SYSTEM:

UK university grading system helps understand the application requirements and
eligibility for the universities you are aiming to get admitted to. The British grading
system is highly appreciated and effective as it perfectly tests student achievements
in terms of skills and academic strengths. Countries like Canada, Australia, and
even India (to some extent) follow the UK grading scale for higher studies.
Though, United Kingdom follow distinct grading methods. Northern Ireland,
Wales, and England share mostly the same techniques, whereas the grading system
of Scotland is quite different.
U K A D VA N C E D L E V E L E X A M G R A D I N G
SYSTEM
 TIMETABLE, SUBJECTS
Subjects in schools in England at Key Stage 1 (4-7 years old):
The program includes at least 10 subjects:
English language, geography,maths,natural sciences - a block that combines
biology, chemistry and physics, informatics, technology and design, story, art and
design, music, physical education.

Subjects in schools in England at Key Stage 3 (12-14 years old):

In UK schools, this stage expands the list of compulsory subjects from 10 to 13.
citizenship, foreign language, career.
Subjects in schools in England at Key Stage 4 (15-16 years old):
In addition to compulsory subjects, students study several self-selected
disciplines. As a rule, the choice falls on those that correlate with the
intended specialty at the university. The most popular subjects studied in
English schools:
Information and communication technologies, business, travel and
tourism, theology, environmental management, right, oceanography,
psychology, sociology, foreign languages.

Subjects in schools in England at Key Stage 5 (16-18 years old):

The International Baccalaureate curriculum for high school students is
built on 3 main components: theory of knowledge; essay research;
creativity, activity, society, united in one discipline.
The program also includes disciplines from 6 subject groups: native
language, foreign language, man and society, natural Sciences, maths and
art.
 EXTRA-CLASS ACTIVITIES
In the UK you’ll have access to world-class facilities and a wide range of activities to
choose from.
One advantage you will get is the opportunity to try different hobbies, some of which
may involve travel and adventure. Schools make a huge effort to make life outside the
classroom fun and organize a variety of activities both on campus and in various
locations outside the school.
Sports is one of the high-profile activities in the school. You will do some sport as
part of your physical education (PE) lessons, but you can choose to do much more. In
boarding schools, there are different age teams for many sports, including netball,
hockey, cricket, football, rugby and lacrosse. You can play tennis, badminton, squash
and golf and take part in athletics, gymnastics and swimming. Some schools also
organize horse riding or cycling, fencing, archery and pigeon shooting.
 THE END

Realized by Rusalina, Nicolae, Vasile, Leon and Maxim