The English Education System
Education in England and Wales is a divided into: primary, secondary, further and higher education. Compulsory education lasts for 11 years; statutory schooling ages are between 5 to 16 years. Children are legally required to start attending school at the start of the term after their fifth birthday either on 31 August, 31 December or 31 March, however children often start earlier than this. Pupils are required to stay in school until the last Friday in June of the school year in which they reach 16 years of age. During this time children must receive full-time education that is suited to their age, ability, aptitude and special educational needs (SEN). If a child does not attend school, the local education authority (LEA) must be satisfied that other appropriate provision is available.
Most pupils transfer from primary to secondary school at age 11 years. However, a system of middle schools also exists: here pupils are transferred from primary school at either age 8 or 9 years, then onto secondary education at age 12 or 13 years.
Most secondary schools in England and Wales are comprehensive; these do not operate a selective entrance system. However, in some parts of England, a grammar school system also operates whereby pupils are usually required to pass an entrance examination based on their ability.
Under the National Curriculum, as a result of the Education Reform Act 1988, four Key Stages to education were established. These are as follows:
5 to 7 years old
7 to 11 years old
11 to 14 years old
14 to 16 years old
Pupils are assessed by National Curriculum tests at the end of each Key Stage. Key Stage 1 assessments are taken at age 7, Key Stage 2 assessments are taken at age 11 and Key Stage 3 assessments are taken at age 14. Key Stage 4 is assessed by levels of achievement acquired at General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) level. Having completed GCSEs, pupils have a choice of whether to continue with further education at school or college or to undertake employment.
