EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE UK
SCHOOL STARTING AGE:
Most children start school full-time the September after their fourth birthday. This means they’ll turn 5 during their first school year.
For example, if your child’s fourth birthday is between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 they will usually start school in September 2022.
You may want your child to start later, if you do not think your child is ready: More information is in the link below:
More information> https://www.gov.uk/schools-admissions/school-starting-age
COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE:
Education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) and 16 either at school or otherwise, with a child beginning primary education during the school year they turn 5.
Children must stay in full-time education until they reach school leaving age.
SCHOOL LEAVING AGE
Your school leaving age depends on which part of the UK you are. See relevant information here: https://www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school
ʺCompulsory School Ageʺ does not mean that children MUST be registered and attending established schools. What it means is that parents/guardians have a duty/obligation to provide an education during that period.
In other words, education is compulsory for all children up to age 16, but enrolling your child to school is not. This means that by law, you have the right to teach your child at home, including if your child has special educational needs (SEN).
Special Educational Needs: https://www.theschoolrun.com/special-educational-needs
You don’t need to be a teacher or have educational qualifications to home educate. You are also not required to follow the national curriculum, and your child doesn’t have to take exams like SATs, GCSEs or A Levels (although not seating for exams such as GCSEs, A Levels has implications, because exams provide an opportunity to test one’s knowledge and the exams results form the basis to progress beyond post-16).
But you do have to make sure your child is receiving a suitable full-time education (although this doesn’t mean you have to stick to school hours and term times).
Useful resources about education system in the UK:
Further information about home schooling is available at
SIGNIFICANCE OF DATES IN UK EDUCATION
Children are enrolled into the school system strictly based on their age at the beginning of the school year.
School age starts at 5 => Meaning that Children who are enrolled at the beginning of the school year (September), must have been 5. This is very important. It means only children who have the 5th birth dates between 1 September of the previous year and 31 August of the current year are qualified to start in September of current year in Year 1.
For example, a child whose birth date falls on 1st September, will unfortunately not be in the same class group with other children of similar year of birth, but whose month of birth falls before 1 September.
Once again, Children are enrolled into the school system strictly based on their age at the beginning of the school year.
This is an area that families relocating to the UK are challenged with, particularly for families who relocate from environments that allow children to have accelerated learning. For example, in some countries, parents can choose to have their children start school at 4 years old and some children are admitted to secondary schools after year 10 (4th year in secondary schools).
Regardless of what education level at primary/secondary the children have attained before relocating to the UK, they will be enrolled into the UK school system strictly based on their age which means such children may be scaled back 1 or 2 years depending on their circumstances.
PRE-5 YEAR OLD EDUCATION (EARLY EDUCATION)
All 3 to 4-year-olds in England are entitled to free early education (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds) before they start school full time.
All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours per year. It’s usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year, but you can choose to take fewer hours over more weeks.
RECEPTION (4 – 5 YEAR OLDS)
Reception is the final part of the Early Years Foundation Stage
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_Stage) of education. It’s also free (Govt funded)
KEY STAGES IN EDUCATION
The national curriculum is organised into blocks of years called ‘key stages’ (KS). At the end of each key stage, the teacher will formally assess your child’s performance
The Key stages are:
- Early Years – 3 to 5
- Key Stage 1 (KS1) – 5 to 7
- Key Stage 2 (KS2) – 7 to 11
- Key Stage 3 (KS3) – 11 to 14
- Key Stage 4 (KS4) – 14 to 16
More information> https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum
School Admission – Information about school admission, admission criteria available at> https://www.gov.uk/schools-admissions
APPLICATION FOR SCHOOL PLACES
Primary School: You can apply for a place at a state primary school online or by using your council’s application form. You apply through your local council even if you’re applying for schools in another council area.
Secondary School: The same is applicable
YEAR TO YEAR SCHOOL PROGRESSION
In the UK, progression from one year group to another after an academic year is automatic. It is not based on Exams or test, unlike some countries. At the end of Year 6 in primary school, children progress to Year 7 in secondary/grammar school.
However, for parents who are interested in their children going to grammar schools, admission is through examination.
Grammar schools select pupils by ability. Children can sit for test for grammar school at Year 6 and the tests are commonly known as the 11+.
Grammar school admission is very competitive – for obvious reasons, there are much fewer places that the number of candidates. It is important for parents to prepare their children for 11+ exam early enough – in many cases from Year 4.
In most cases, children need at least some preparation if they’re to pass the 11+ exam and in most cases, they need a regular study schedule months in advance.
IMPLICATION OF AUTOMATIC PROGRESSION
Because passing exams are not required for children to progress from one year to another, it is imperative that parents pay particular attention to their children’s academic work. Home studies are important and parents need to have regular engagement with their children about the study plans. Parents need to know about any test and support their children appropriately.
SETTING IN SCHOOLS
Schools largely operate a setting system – grouping children by ability according to subject – So a child who is achieving highly in maths but is average at reading and spelling might be in the top set for maths, and the middle set for English. Schools use children academic performance to continually assess the appropriate sets for them in specific subjects. Parents therefore need to pay particular attention to this, to check out sets their children are in specific subjects. Schools are supposed to use objective metrics for the setting but you can never rule out prejudice.
The implication of setting is that, children in lower sets are taught at a slower pace than those in top sets. For example, in Maths, it is possible that children in lower sets will learn less complex topics as they progress from one year to another. As children progress to GCSE level, they may already not be in a position to seat for some exams having found out that their options have become limited. For example, GCSE Maths has Higher and Foundation papers. The maximum obtainable grade for Foundation is Grade 5 whereas the Higher paper’s maximum obtainable grade is 9. A child that has for any reason been in lower set in Maths by the GCSE level, may discover he/she is limited in his career progression opportunities.
Because these settings don’t always reflect the potential of the children, it is important that parents pay attention so that they could see what support they could offer their children. For example, a child may be quite playful as a result of which he/she is not engaging effectively in class or/and not doing the homework may be put in lower sets in spite of his actual potential or ability.
SATS
In England, primary school children take exam twice during their primary school education. These exams are known as SATs (Standard Assessment Tests).
SATS tests are designed to help the government measure how well schools are performing and secondly to see how well children individually have learnt. SATS tests cannot be failed. The tests are not used to determine progression from year to year.
SATS test do also play a role in defining some of the next educational steps for your child. If for instance in year two they do not do well in a particular subject and are significantly below the expected levels then this may trigger some intervention concerns with parents and with the school. This may contribute to additional help for that child as they go into year 3. Normally these things would be decided through normal teacher assessment but sometimes SATS can help to confirm a position.
SATS are taken at the end of year two and then of year six. At the end of year two children are tested on the Maths and English syllabus for Key Stage One so these are called KS1 SATS. At the end of year six children are tested on the Maths and English syllabus for Key Stage Two so these are called KS2 SATS.
In KS2 (at the end of Year 6) the results are sent to the child’s secondary school and there they will normally be used to help decisions on setting or streaming. Children with the highest marks will go into the top sets for Maths and English where they will be with other high performance children. It is worth adding that sets in secondary schools are not set in stone and purely defined by SATS. Children will move into and out of these sets depending on their performance at secondary school.
Useful resources on SATS
- https://www.satspapersguide.co.uk/sats-information/what-are-sats/
- https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/05/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sats/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/standards-and-testing-agency
- https://www.theschoolrun.com/what-are-sats
CHOOSING SUBJECTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL
GCSE vs BTECH
Most parents are used to the academic path for preparing their children. This is the traditional GCSE. There is however an alternative path – BTEC. A BTEC is more of a vocational course, whilst a GCSE is an academic course.
BTEC stands for the Business and Technology Education Council. BTECs are specialist work-related qualifications. They combine practical learning with subject and theory content.
BTEC is available for courses such as ICT, Business studies, health and social care, art and design, etc.
WHO ARE BTEC FOR?
BTECs are designed for young people interested in a particular sector or industry but who are not yet sure what job they’d like to do.
is a practical-based, vocational qualification. It can be studied at a college or school.
You could study a BTEC at Level 2 or 3, either alongside academic qualifications or as part of a wider programme (such as an apprenticeship). You can also study a BTEC as a standalone course.
BTEC subjects offered in secondary schools are mostly at level 2. They are offered in subjects such as ICT, Business, Health and Social care, Music and performing Arts.
BTEC is not inferior to GCSE – A GCSE grade has an equivalent BTEC Level 2 grade. GCSE is exam oriented while BTEC has elements of course work and exams. Some children’s learning attitudes are more suited to BTEC than GCSE.
It is therefore a good thing to let children choose a mix of GCSE and BTEC subjects. This will give them an opportunity of testing their area of strength and also improve the chances of having higher grades
GCSEs (A* to C) are accredited at level 2 at NQF (National Qualification Framework)
POST 16 OPTIONS
There are many career options after GCSE results for students, such as working, studying A Levels, retaking GCSEs while studying A Levels, retaking GCSEs while working, night school, studying abroad or even an apprenticeship abroad. The results that you receive on GCSE results day do not shape your entire life; there is life after GCSE results.
- Exam retakes – If GCSE results fall short of expectations, you may need to think about retaking some or all of them. This is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly, and what you decide largely depends on the subjects involved. Most A-Level & BTEC Leve3 courses require that students have minimum of Grade C GCSE equivalent in 4-5 subjects. More importantly, Government legislation states that students need to have a Grade C in Maths and English, and will need to have these grades to continue. Most employers and college programmes, like BTEC or apprenticeships; require individuals to hold a grade C in Maths and English, or they won’t be accepted. For any of these reasons, it may be required for students to retake their GCSE in the specific subjects. Students may need to pay for the resit and find an institution that will allow the to resit the exam, as they may not be able to re-sit it at their old school. Many colleges offering A Level and BTech Level 3 provide opportunity for students to retake Maths/English GCSE.
- A Level – Advanced level qualifications (known as A levels) are subject-based qualifications that can lead to university, further study, training, or work. You can normally study three or more A levels over two years. A level is studied in sixth form schools and Further education colleges. A Level is for those thinking of going to University (most higher education courses require specific A levels or combinations of A levels (or alternative level 3 qualifications) or not sure what career or job they want to do – studying a selection of A levels can be a good way of keeping their options open.
- Apprenticeships – An apprenticeship lets you get on-the-job training and study for qualifications at the same time. When you do an apprenticeship, you are an employee of the company that trains you, which means you will get paid at least £4.15 an hour, and often a lot more. Apprenticeships are designed by sector skills councils, the government and employers to ensure that they reflect the current sector needs. An apprenticeship offers the apprentice with the opportunity to gain new skills and experience in the sector. Apprenticeships are often completed concurrently with a college or university course. Many apprenticeships will require the apprentice to complete examinations and receive a vocational qualification at the end of said work; these are typically done by studying in technical skills, carrying out practical assessments and by independent learning and working.
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