Education System
The education system in England differs quite a bit to other countries, so here is a quick overview.
Before I begin I need to explain what a 'Year' is and how ages figure into this. A 'Year' is basically a grade, beginning with Reception, then Year 1 and ending with Year 13. Each year begins with the children born in September, and ends with those born in August.
Notice that I have said 'pupils' rather than 'students'. In the UK the term can refer to a person studying something, as well as a 'Student'. A 'Student' is a University Student, and the main difference is that Students get a Student loan and discounts from certain places. A good example is the cinema; there is a Student ticket if you provide your Student Card. Student Cards are issued by Universities when you register and contain your name, Student number and a photo.
Levels of Education:
There are five 'levels' of education in England:
Playgroup - Not a part of education, but children between the age of 3-4 tend to go to a playgroup before starting school. This would be known as kindergarten in other countries.
Infants - This is the first part of primary school. The first year is called reception and are children aged 4 - 5. Then you have year 1 (5-6), Year 2 (6-7)
Juniors - This is the second part of primary school before Secondary school (aka "big school"). Year 3 (7-8), Year 4 (8-9), Year 5 (9-10) and Year 6 (10-11). In Years 4-6 children begin to recieve homework and projects. In Year 6 children will sit their SAT examss which is an exam in English, Science and Maths. The average score is a 4 and these exams have no importance in later life.
Infants and Juniors can be split into two seperate buildings or schools, or be together in a Primary School.
Secondary School - This comes after Primary School and is the end of compulsary education. The first year is Year 7 (11-12), then there is Year 8 (12-13) which is usually the most relaxed year in Secondary school. In Year 9 (13-14) there are SAT exams again, and once again are only in English, Science and Maths. The average score is a 6 and once again, these exams have no use in later life.
Year 10, however, is the beginning of GCSEs which conclude in Year 11. These exams count as qualifications, and are important for getting into College, which then leads onto University. Year 10 (14-15) is usually just course work and exams are taken in Year 11 (15-16).
College/6th Form College - The whole point of college is to obtain another set of qualifications (A-Levels, GVNQs, VNQs etc.) that will help a pupil gain entry to University or for employment. College is a choice, and is not compulsary. The difference between a college and a 6th Form college is that a college is a seperate institution, a 6th Form College is a part of a Secondary School. Year 12 (16-17) has coursework and exams, and at the end of the Year pupils complete an AS. An AS is part one of an A-Level and stands as a qualification on it's own. In Year 12 they take 4 AS subjects. In Year 13 (17-18) 3 out of the 4 subjects are continued onto a full A2, the second part of an A-Level. Both parts, an AS and an A2 combine to create a full A-Level. The subjects studied here are chosen by the pupils themselves.
University - The final part of education in England. The age of students ranges from 18+, and mature students are becoming a lot more common. The subjects are more diverse and most students will leave home to go to University. For more details please see the University page.
Subjects:
Until Year 10 (the beginning of GCSE exams) pupils do not choose what subjects they are taught. Standard subjects until Year 10 include; English, Science, Maths, Art, One or two Languages (French, German, Italian or Spanish usually), Technology, PE (Games/sports) and Religious Education if the school is a Christian based.
At Year 10 pupils still have to take English, Science and Maths, and sometimes one language and Technology - this depends on the school. At GCSE pupils get to choose at least 2 other subjects. At A-Level they get to choose all four of their subjects depending on what qualifications they will need for jobs or degrees at University.
There are private schools in England, but most normal, average people will send their children to public schools. Public schools are every where and there is a wide range of choice for parents. Primary schools are usually close to a child's home and within walking distance for the older children. Secondary school is usually a bus ride or walking distance away, and then College/6th Form college is even further.
More information on England's education system is here.