british education system

[guddy]

hi all

Ds is starting school next september.
My schooling has been abroad and have no clue about the system here.Would appreciate any guidance.
Also what is the difference between comprehensive and grammar schools?Did a google search but got confused even more!!!

Hi Guddy - the type of school your child will go to depends on what part of the country you live in. I live in West Midlands and we have an Infant/Junior then on to Secondary school system. Child joins infant school in the September following their 4th birthday. The cut off date for intake is 1st September so if child A were born on 31st August 2000 and child B were born on 14th September 2000 they would be in different school years, child B going the following year. (NB. Some areas have a January or Easter intake too). The school years are Reception, year 1, 2, etc up to year 11. Infants includes Reception-Year 2, Juniors includes year 3-6, and Secondary includes years 7-11. Then come the key stages Foundation, 1, 2 & 3.

Foundation Key Stage is Nursery (optional) and Reception.
Key Stage 1 - Years 1 & 2
Key Stage 2 - Years 3,4,5,6 (the Juniors)
Key Stage 3 - Years 7,8,9

Then GCSE's are taken in year 11.

Of course some rural schools have a very small number of children and ages doesn't appear to have too much bearing as quite often children spanning a few years are taught in the same class. A rural mummy may be able to explain this better.

Also in other areas you have the Infant/Middle/High school system which I know nothing about at all other than it doesn't follow Infant/Junior/Secondary movement but the curriculum is the same.

Comprehensive schools are secondary state schools and are available to everyone; grammar schools usually need an entrance exam pass to attend.

Hope you understood this but there are lots of teachers on this site who will be able to help further, Popsycal teachers juniors and Hulababy teachers secondary children to name just 2.

and I clearly need to go back to school - meant to say Popsycal teaches juniors and Hulababy teaches secondary

Hi guddy

As Jampot mentions, I teach secondary (ages 11 years- 18) - as do a few other MNetters. I teach in South Yorkshire.

What kind of things do you want to know about?

This is really useful jampot, even for those of us from the UK!

Guddy, there are umpteen different kinds of school even within the state sector. What area are you in, because the chances are there will be mumsnetters here from that area?

I can help with explaining secondary school, so if you have questions about the national curriculum post 11 ask away!

There isn't a "British" education system as the system in Scotland is diferent, with different exams. (I don't know about Northern Ireland).

In Scotland there is only one intake for Primary School in August (I think based on an April cut off).

There are 7 years at Primary School and then 6 at Secondary. Standard grades (the equivalanet of GSCEs) are sat in 4th year at Secondary School and then 4-6 "Highers" in 5th year, after which it is possible to go University, or stay on for a 6th year and do more Highers (or re-sit them!) or some Certificate of 6th year Studies (that name may have changed) or some A levels.

There are no Grammar Schools - all comprehensive - and no grant/voluntary aided school. The Catholic Schools (and I think there is one Jewish school) are part of the state system.

I can help with secondary too.

Grammar and comprehensive really depends on where you live. About 30 years ago there were either grammar or secondary modern. A very small percentage of the population "passed" their 11+ and were educated at grammar schools, the rest went to secondary moderns. There were different curricula and on the whole different examinations.

In the 1960s/1970s most areas went comprehensive. The comprehensive ideal was, as the name suggests, to provide everyone with an education suitable to their needs under one roof. So children of all abilities and backgrounds would be educated together, but following courses that specifically met the needs of each individual child. Unfortunately there was a misconception that comprehensive meant "one size fits all", even within some schools, and in these cases the comprehensive ideal has not been met.

In many areas there are schools that select on ability (called grammar if they select 100% on ability) or on aptitude for specific skills (music, sport, languages etc. - these are called specialist schools and only select 10% of their intake). Because of the continued existence of selective schools there are very very few true comprehensives, especially in urban areas where so much choice exists. My school is a comprehensive. It's admissions policies is to take 20% of its pupils from each of 5 ability bands as determined by an LEA test that all students take. In reality 90% of our students are from bands D & E (the bottom two) because there are selective schools in the borough who cream off the top!

The British education system is highly complicated - I hope this has helped. If you say where you are, I might be able to give more details (this topic is very close to what I studied for my MA!)

I work in England, but I can also tell you that there are differences in the Welsh system. Schools don't have to do the Key Skills tests in primary at level 1 or 2. There are also differences in MFL provision, as children are expected to study Welsh.

hi all
Thanks for all your replies.
Im clear about the differences between comprehensive and grammar(what a relief)!!
I live in west lancashire.there is a primary school nearby with a good reputation(from the locals).
How would i know which school is best for my child?how does one read the ofsted report?
sorry too many questions again!!!!!!!!!!!!

In terms of what's best for your child, I firmly believe the best way is to visit the school and go with your 'gut reaction'. If you have a preferred choice, I would advise not going to that school first - find another one to visit, then you have something to compare it against. Phone the schools - some Heads like to show prospective parents round, others prefer you to come to an open day.

Re Ofsted reports - don't read too many at once. I would advise just read the summary of the schools you are interested in; that should tell you if there are any major problems.

Btw do you know what the closing date is for applications for next September?

Hi guddy - you can ask a school for the ofsted report. They will probably offer you the summary which they send out to parents once an ofsted report is completed. A lot of schools also make them available on their websites. I have to say though that I would make my decision more on what I see rather than what an ofsted report says.

you can find ofsted reports online

search here

thanks roisin
Closing date?is there one?
i have still not put my son's name down.
will contact the school tom.

Sorry, I misunderstood your question. Ofsted reports are here

You beat me to it Popsy.

Guddy - your LEA will have set a closing date. Here (SW Cumbria) it's end of April, some Counties have just before Christmas, some a bit after. So you've still got plenty of time yet to visit some schools and do your research.

It's not end of April, it's end of January here ... brain not in gear tonight.

cheers all!!
some time back i had seen discussion about state vs private schools. at that time it didnt make any sense.
will have a good read about it.

This site gives you details about primary school admissions in Lancashire.