WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE BRITISH EDUCATION SYSTEM?

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.

Read more on the Department for Education website.

WHAT TYPE OF SCHOOLS ARE THERE IN THE UK?

Schools in Great Britain are either state-funded or privately-funded (private, independent and 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.

School types:

Comprehensive/ Secondary school with sixth form: offer a general education, about ninety per cent of British pupils attend these schools.

Grammar school: will only accept students that have passed an entrance exam. They provide academic education, preparing their students for university or further education colleges.

Colleges for Further education: these schools are open to anyone over the age of 16. There is often a mix of different age groups, from school leavers to mature students. Some courses are aimed specifically at adults.

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.

WHICH SUBJECTS DO CHILDREN STUDY AT SCHOOL?

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.

WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ABOUT CURRICULA AND EXAMS?

You can find useful information at National Curriculum Online, the official government website on the National Curriculum.

WHAT IS GCSE?

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.

WHAT KIND OF COURSES CAN AN INDIVIDUAL DO BETWEEN 16 AND 18?

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

Advanced.

Other possibilities are vocational qualifications such as those of the BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) and City and Guilds (modern apprenticeship).

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.

WHAT ARE THE ENTRANCE REQUIRЕMENTS?

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.

WHEN DO I APPLY?

The academic year usually begins in September, so you will need to apply a year before the start date. You will also need to contact your school or tutorial college directly to ask for application details and a registration form.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE SCHOOL?

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.

HOW CAN I CHECK THE QUALITY OF THE SCHOOLS?

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Independent schools are expensive; annual fees range from about £3,000 to more than £16,000. These costs will also depend on how your child will be boarding (full-board, half-board, or living with a UK family).

ARE THERE ANY SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE?

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.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR A VISITING STUDENT TO JOIN A BRITISH SCHOOL?

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.

WHEN ARE THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS IN THE UK?

The main summer holiday is generally from mid-July to early September. Children also have two weeks holiday at Christmas and at Easter, plus a week in mid-October and in mid-February. The exact term dates are determined by the location education authorities, however, and can consequently vary from region to region.

DO I NEED A VISA TO STUDY IN THE UK?

Yes. You must obtain a visa at the British Embassy in Prishtina prior to your arrival in the UK.