Education in the UK is compulsory for everyone between the ages of five and sixteen. Most UK children enter the state education system when they go to primary school at the age of five and generally move to secondary school at the age of eleven.

Pupils must take national Standard Assessment Tests (SATs). These tests give an independent measure of how pupils and schools are doing compared with national standards in these subjects

The main exam is the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) which pupils take at about 16 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a similar but separate system in Scotland.

There are a number of websites that provide a good overview of education system in the UK. Please have a look at the following:

Schools in Great Britain are either state-funded or privately-funded (private, independent und public schools). Education at state-funded schools is free of charge. Privately-funded schools charge fees and often expect their students to sit an entrance exam.

There are many independent schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, taking international pupils of all school ages. Independent schools offer a high academic success rate, with most pupils moving on to a UK university after completing their schooling. The UK independent school system offers one of the best educational experiences in the world and will enable your child to become a fluent speaker of English. This will prepare your child for a successful career with many opportunities.

Maintained boarding schools are no different from local day schools and are maintained by the local authority. Independent boarding schools charge both tuition and boarding fees while those in the maintained sector charge only for boarding (£4,500 - £7,400 per year).

School types:

Any maintained secondary school in England can become a ‘specialist school’ in areas such as technology, languages, sports or arts. The schools meet full national curriculum requirements, but have a special focus on the chosen speciality.

Could my child attend a state-funded boarding school?

There are state-funded boarding schools, but not many (about thirty-six in England). If you are from the European Union or have the right of residence in the UK, your child can receive free education and you pay only the cost of boarding – go to www.stabis.org.uk for more information.

The compulsory subjects up until the end of compulsory education are: maths, English and science. But there are others, called 'foundation subjects', which are: technology (design and technology/information technology), history, geography, music, arts, classic studies (where you study Latin and its influence in how other languages were developed), physical education, and for secondary school children, a foreign language and sexual education. Sometimes religious education is also included.

If you are planning to do your A-levels, you are free to combine your subjects, bearing in mind that you might need to do certain subjects for entry into particular courses at university. For entry into medical studies, for example, you need chemistry and two of the following: physics, maths and biology.

GCSE is the abbreviation for the General Certificate of Secondary Education. This qualification is usually gained in 5 to 8 subjects at the age of 16, when compulsory school education comes to an end. After obtaining their GCSEs, pupils have various educational paths they can follow up to the age of 18.

For comprehensive information, please look at the Directgov - the official government website for citizens

At this age pupils study for A-Levels (Advanced) and AS-Levels (Advanced Supplementary) in preparation for going on to higher education. It is also possible to combine A- and AS-Levels or GNVQs (General National Vocational Qualifications) with NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications).

GNVQs are vocational qualifications that involve more practical and professional aspects of certain subjects. There are three levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. Other possibilities are vocational qualifications such as those of the BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) and City and Guilds (modern apprenticeships).

Finally, between the ages of 17 and 18, students at selected schools in Britain can also do the International Baccalaureate (IB). The website of the International Baccalaureate Organisation provides information and a search function. The International Baccalaureate is accepted as an equivalent school leaving examination to the GCE A-levels. Many countries around the world accept it as a qualification for entry to higher education institutions.

There is a lot of competition for UK independent schools; most require academic entrance tests and many pupils sit the Common Entrance exam at the age of eleven or thirteen. This is difficult for children who have been through a different educational system, so international students are usually tested on mathematics and English language.

There are many independent schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, taking international pupils of all school ages. One of the best places to researching UK schools is the Independent Schools Council. The British Accreditation Council (BAC) keeps a searchable database of independent tutorial colleges, while the Association of Colleges - London offers information on London colleges. You can also visit the following websites for more information on the Independent Schools of the British Isles and Hobsons UK Boarding Schools websites.

Gabbitas Educational Consultants are based in the UK and provide advice to find suitable independent boarding and day schools for your child.

Most Departments for Education in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish so-called School and college achievement and attainment tables and inspection reports on their websites.

For addresses of schools in particular regions please contact the relevant Local Education Authority. The Department for Children, Schools and Families publishes the Parents Guide to Maintained Boarding Schools, which is also available online as a pdf document.

If you require funding to cover Independent school fees, you should contact the schools directly for further information about what scholarships may be available.

Unfortunately, there is no British Council funding available to support international students who want to attend school in the UK.

If you want to continue your secondary school education in the UK the best time for a visiting student to join a British school is at the age of 16. This is when British pupils start their preparations for their A-levels.

Yes. You must obtain a visa at the British Embassy in Skopje prior to your arrival in the UK. If you are not sure about your visa status or need further information please visit https://www.visainfoservices.com/. The Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) produce guidance notes on immigration.