The school systems of the UK are unique to each country. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are alike in many ways while Scotland has some significant differences.
Education in the UK is compulsory for ages 5 – 16, culminating in a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). England is considering changing this to 5 – 18. Beyond that are the higher educational levels.
Educational levels are broken down generally in this manner for England, Wales, and Ireland:
· Stage 1 – Initial primary education occurs in infant schools for up to age 7, and covers school years 1 and 2.
· Stage 2 - Primary grades of the junior schools cover ages 7 – 11 and count for years 3 – 6. This stage is sometimes combined with infant schools for a total of six years – two for infant and four for junior.
· Stage 3 – The first part of secondary education for children aged 11 – 14 includes school years 7 – 9.
· Stage 4 – The end of secondary education, these school years 10 – 11, ages 14 – 16, culminate with exams for the General Certificate of Secondary Education.
At this point students can exit the school system or sit for two more years preparing for university entrance or continue in vocational or technical schools. Students who stay to qualify for university will sit for A-Level exams.
In Scotland there are seven years of primary school followed by six years of secondary education. These are compulsory. Pupils can go to university at the end of their 5th year (S5), as Highers provide the entry requirements for Scottish universities where degrees are normally at least four years long; however, the norm is for students to remain through S6, taking further Highers, or moving to the Advanced level.
Higher education opportunities are plentiful but competition can be rigorous. A third of UK students roll over into university courses along with a good 50% and more Scottish students. These students are also competing with foreign students. Most university degrees can be earned in three years, but there is now a tendency to spend one year in the workplace, making the university career four years long. In Scotland it takes four years to earn an undergraduate degree.
Even higher degrees can be earned in masters and graduate degrees. Some take longer than others, notably in the fields such as medicine, law, and veterinary.