Education in the UK

University Foundation Course

Presentation focus

The School System in England

Presentation Overview

Structure of English Educational System-Voluntary & Compulsory stages-Examinations and Assessments

History of education in England

Education in the news – current topics of debate

Voluntary and Compulsory Stages

Pre-school: age 3 – 5 (voluntary)

• Foundation Stage 1– part-time, nursery or childcare environment, age 3-4

• Foundation Stage 2– full-time, “Reception”, in Infant or Primary school

• In 1970 21% of 3 to 4-year-olds attended some form of pre-school education

• In 2006 the number had gone up to 64%

Early years educationTwo thirds of 3 and 4 year olds go to school

Children under five in schools, UK

Voluntary and Compulsory Stages

Full-time education: age 5 – 16 (compulsory)

• State schools, independent schools, home-schooling

• Compulsory school begins with the term which follows child’s 5th birthday

• Most enrol in reception class in September of that school year (age 4 or 4.5)

• Compulsory school continues until age 16

Diagram of schooling systems in England

Examinations and Assessments

The National Curriculum

• Key Stage National Curriculum Tests– Key Stage 1 (KS1) – during Year 2 (ages 6/7)– Key Stage 2 (KS2) – end of Year 6 (ages 10/11)– Key Stage 3 (KS3) – end of Year 9 (ages 13/14)– Key Stage 4 (KS4) – end of Year 10 & 11 (ages 14-16) – incorporated

into GCSE examinations

• Key Stage Exams often referred to as SATs (Standard Assessment Tests)

Examinations and Assessments

GCSE examinations (14-16)

• Broad range of 6 to 10 subjects, must include – English– Maths– Science

• Exams usually sat at age 16 – The youngest student to gain a GCSE is home-educated Arran

Fernandez, who took GCSE Mathematics in 2001 at the age of five, gaining grade D. In 2003 he became the youngest ever student to gain an A* grade, also for Mathematics.

• Pass grades, from highest to lowest, are– A*, A, B, C, D, E, F, G– Fail Grade is U (Unclassified)

Examinations and Assessments

• GCSE subjects

Languages – French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Latin

Design & Technology – textiles, electronics, food

Humanities – geography, history, religious studies

Business studies, Home Economics, Citizenship, Psychology, Sociology

Arts, Dance, Drama, Media Studies, Fashion

Voluntary and Compulsory Stages

Post 16 education – not compulsory

– Therefore school pupils can leave school at 16

– In 2007, government announced plan to increase school leaving age to 18 (to come into effect in 2013)

– Around 70% of 16 year-olds remain in education

Examinations and Assessments

A Levels examinations (16-18)

– Final 2 years in Sixth Form

– A Level is exam taken for university entrance

– Students typically only take 3 subjects, sometimes 4

– Comprise of 6 modules assessed over 2 years

– End of year 1 (3 modules) = AS Level

– End of second year (3 modules) = A2 Level

– Grades:• A=80%+, B=70% - 79%, C=60% - 69%, D=50% - 59%, E=40% - 49%

A brief history of education in UK

• Changes in education a result of changes in government

• 1980s The Conservatives– National Curriculum– SATs– League Tables– Parental choice

A brief history of education in UK

1997 – present day: New Labour

• “Education, Education, Education”• Ofsted inspections• Catchment areas• City Academies• NVQs

Current topics of debate

League tables & results driven performance

Catchment areas, Faith schools & Postcode lotteries

Discipline, Knives, Teacher shortages, Literacy levels