The UK education system consists of state schools that are free, private schools that require payment, and grammar schools that require passing an exam at age 11. Children attend nursery from ages 0-4, primary school from ages 4-11, secondary school from ages 11-16, and sixth form or college from ages 16-18. Education is compulsory from ages 4-16. The school year runs from September to July and there are school holidays in October, Christmas, February, and Easter, as well as a six-week summer holiday. Exams are given at various stages including GCSEs and A-Levels. The typical school day lasts from 9am to 3:20pm with lessons lasting 1 hour and 15

1. by Sarah Vallis
The UK Education System

2. Types of Schools
State Schools: Free to all children
Private/Public Schools: Necessary to pay
Grammar Schools: Normally single sex
schools where children must pass an exam
aged 11 to attend.

3. School Grades
Nursery (0-4)
Primary School (4-11: Reception – Year
6)
Secondary School (11-16: Year 7 – 11)
Sixth Form/College (16-18: Years 12
and 13)
Education is compulsory from the age of
4 to 16.

4. The School Year
The school year runs from September to July
and is 39 weeks long.
The school holidays are:
October – 1 week
Christmas – 2 weeks
February – 1 week
Easter – 2 weeks
May – 1 week
Summer – 6 weeks

5. Exams
Year 2: Key Stage 1 exams
Year 6: Key Stage 2 exams
Year 11: GCSE’s
Year 12: AS Levels
Year 13: A Levels

6. School Day
School lasts from 9am until
3.20pm.
Lessons are 1 hour and 15
minutes long.
There is a break in the
morning at 11.40am which
lasts 20 minutes.
At break time, students
usually eat a snack.

7. Lunch
Lunch is at 1.15 until 2 pm.
Students stay in school and
they either bring their own
lunch in a lunch box
OR they can buy lunch
from the school canteen.

8. Number of Pupils
In my primary school
there were 500 pupils.
In my secondary
school there were
1500 students.
There are on average
30 students in every
class.

9. The Classroom
Teachers have their own
classrooms and it is the students
that change rooms after every
lesson.
Depending on your level in a
subject you will be put in different
sets. For example, if you are
good at Spanish you will be in set
one, but if you are bad at English
you will be in set 5.

10. School Uniform
The school uniform varies from school
to school but most schools have one.
On certain days you can wear what you
want. For example, to raise money for
charity.
It stops children worrying about what to
wear, and teachers believe that it
makes students more disciplined.

11. Primary School

12. Secondary School
Shirt Tie Blazer
Skirt Trousers