The UK education system
Schools in the UK are either state-funded schools or independent, the latter of which includes international schools. Even though state schools across the country follow a comparable curriculum, there are slight variations in the school systems between England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Still, the compulsory school age for children is between five and 18.
State schools receive government funding and include community schools (local authority maintained), foundation or voluntary schools, academies, free schools, and grammar schools. Conversely, independent and international schools are not subsidized by the government.
Key Stages (KS)
Community schools follow the national curriculum while independent and international schools enjoy more flexibility and freedom in their teaching approach. The national British curriculum is divided into key Stages (KS) which are based on age groups, as follows:
| Age | Year | KS | Exams | Compulsory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 – 4 |  | Early years |  |  |
| 4 – 5 | Reception | Early years |  |  |
| Primary | Primary | Primary | Primary | Primary |
| 5 – 6 | Year 1 | KS1 |  | x |
| 6 – 7 | Year 2 | KS1 |  | x |
| 7 – 8 | Year 3 | KS2 |  | x |
| 8 – 9 | Year 4 | KS2 |  | x |
| 9 – 10 | Year 5 | KS2 |  | x |
| 10 – 11 | Year 6 | KS2 |  | x |
| Secondary | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary | Secondary |
| 11 – 12 | Year 7 | KS3 |  | x |
| 12 – 13 | Year 8 | KS3 |  | x |
| 13 – 14 | Year 9 | KS3 |  | x |
| 14 – 15 | Year 10 | KS4 |  | x |
| 15 – 16 | Year 11 | KS4 | GCSE | x |
| 16 – 17 | Year 12 | KS5 |  |  |
| 17 – 18 | Year 13 | KS5 | A-Levels |  |
However, school years in Scotland and Northern Ireland are named differently, which can be slightly confusing. Scottish children graduate to secondary school at age 12 (S1), then, at 16 (S4), they sit the Standard Grade exams. Only thereafter, at 17 (S5) and 18 (S6), do they complete their Highers and Advanced Highers. These qualifications are comparable to the English Subsidiary and Advanced Level (A-levels) courses.
In Northern Ireland, the school years begin at Year 1 instead of Reception. Therefore, Year 14 is equivalent to Year 13 in England (ages 17 to 18). The school year starts in August or September and is divided into three terms with six breaks throughout the year. School days typically run from around 08:00 or 09:00 to 15:00 or 16:00.
Types of international schools in the UK
International Primary Curriculum (IPC)
The IPC is a globally recognized curriculum that prioritizes intercultural awareness, student engagement, and academic excellence. Therefore, a student’s personal and community development relates closely to a subject’s learning goals. Generally, IPC schools follow the UK curriculum but are adapted for international schools, for children aged 5 to 12.
International Baccaleaureate (IB)
In 2021, 5,500 schools offered 7,500 IB programs across 159 countries. This includes the 108 IB international schools in the UK that use English as the instruction language.
These schools offer at least one of the following IB’s four programs:
- Primary Years Programme (PYP) – seven schools
- Middle Years Programme (MYP) – 24 schools
- Diploma Programme (DP) – 97 schools
- Career-related Programme (CP) – 47 schools
Importantly, IB qualifications are widely recognized and accepted throughout the world and grant students entry to the most esteemed universities. Schools offering the IB in the UK include ICS London.
American international schools and Advanced Placement (AP)
Some international schools in the UK follow the American education system. These include the American Curriculum Schools (ACS), the American School in England (TASIS), and the American School in London (ASL).
There are three international schools in the UK that follow the American Curriculum Schools (ACS), as follows:
Similar to the United States, the school years are divided into the following:
- Early childhood and elementary/lower school (ages 4–11)
- Middle school (ages 11–14)
- High school (ages 14–18)
Younger students take MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) tests from grades 3 to 9, assessing reading, language skills, and maths. High school students can also opt to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). You can read more about that here.
The American School in England (TASIS) offers both the Advanced Placement (AP) and the IB while the American School in London (ASL) only offers the AP. The AP gives high school students the opportunity to take college-equivalent courses while they are still at school. This not only prepares pupils for universities and colleges in the USA but can also earn them credits and placements.
International General Certificate for Secondary Education (IGCSE)
The IGCSE is an English-language-based examination that is similar to the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and aligns with the British educational standards. It consists of a two-year syllabus that begins in Year 10 (age 14) followed by exams in Year 11 (age 15 to 16). Students can choose from over 70 subjects but their choice must include a native and non-native language, maths, and science.
A student needs to obtain a GSCE or IGSCE in order to progress to their A-levels or the equivalent that they require to qualify for university entrance in the UK. Conversely, university applicants need to meet specific IGSCE requirements and achieve the necessary A-level grades for admission in the UK. Therefore, your child’s IGSCE results are really important.
There are three examination boards in the UK – Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel, and Oxford AQA – and exams are held at different times of the year, depending on which board the school uses.
Other national international schools
If you only plan to stay in the UK for a short period of time, then an international school is a great option. These schools are designed to cater to specific nationalities. Furthermore, they prepare children for education in their home countries when they return.
Some of the international schools in the UK include the following:
Religious schools in the UK
Many religious schools in the UK fall under the independent school category. These include Protestant, Anglican (Church of England), Methodist, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventist, and Quaker schools. Even though faith schools follow a specific religion, many still accept non-denominational or multi-faith admissions.
A few specific examples of international faith schools in the UK are:
Method schools in the UK
Alternative pedagogical approaches to education such as Waldorf and Montessori schools are also popular in the UK. However, if you are looking for something even more alternative, there are a few independent schools scattered across the UK that have such a different ethos and teaching approach that they simply cannot be classified under any well-known unorthodox approaches.
These schools include:
In addition, homeschooling is legal in the UK and another popular alternative for international families. You can find more information about this on the Department for Education website.
Online schools
If you want to homeschool or simply want the freedom for your child to continue their education from any location, online schools may be the answer. Therefore, it might be worth exploring the UK’s leading online schools, Interhigh and Person Online Academy.
InterHigh accepts students from the UK and abroad. Therefore, it follows the British curriculum and offers interactive primary, secondary, IGSCE, and A-level courses. In contrast, Pearson Online Academy teaches the American K-12 curriculum for lower, middle, and upper school and offers the Advanced Placement (AP) for college preparation.
