UK schools (have they changed in terms of years)

[Joop557]

When I went to school (DoB 1987), i went to these (ages are approx)
primary 7-9
middle school 10-12/13
high school 13-16 (though they also had a small college there with age 17/18).

however my nephews is different. From what I know it’s been
first school 6-9
secondary 10-16

the elder one just joined secondary.

I’m aware of the key stages but I have a few questions:

1. Did it used to always be like my experience around the country 20 years ago?
2. Are most public schools in Uk set where it’s primary 7-9, secondary 10-16. All in the same school building?
3. Why did they join the middle and high schools up - was it mainly cost cutting?

Are you sure you're remembering correctly?

I'm 6yrs older than you and primary school was 4-11 ( or infants 4-7 and juniors 7-11), high school 11-16 and college/sixth form 16-18.

And it's the same now.

I don’t know whereabouts you’re from and if maybe that makes a difference.
I was born 1984 and my school years were like this:
infant school 4-7
junior school 7-11
secondary school 11-16

some people I know went to a primary school which was 4-11 instead of two separate schools like I did.

I remember it the same as you.

Was primary to year 3
middle school depended on which borough the school was in. Ours was year 4 to year 7
High school was then year 8-11
The high school I attended was in a neighbouring borough where high school started in year 7 so I left middle school a year early.

I was born in 1984.

I started Primary school as a 'rising 5' the term before I turned 5. And left Primary school age 10 (Summer baby so most of my peers would have been 11)

Then went to secondary school for ages 11-16.

Then sixth-form for 16-18

We didn't have middle school here. Primary was one school. Secondary was another. Although I have friends who went to private school. They did prep from "rising 5" - 13
Then secondary from 13- 16

It differs across the UK. In Scotland it’s seven years in primary (P1-P7) and six in secondary (S1-S6). So most pupils are 12 when they start secondary.

There isn’t many areas that still have middle schools but there are a few around.

With Middle school it’s:
infants: age 4-9 Rec - Year 3
middle: age 9-13 - Year 4 - Year 8
high: age 13-16 year 9 - year 11

with middle school it’s:
Primary: age 4-11 Rec - Year 6 (sometimes split to infant & juniors)
High: age 11-16 - year 7 - year 11

School starting age in England has been 4 (5 if early September birthday) for 50+ years - you're misremembering, or maybe you're in Scotland?

Most areas have always had primary (4-11) and secondary (11-16/18), though a few have the middle school system - but it's always been quite rare.

I think you have your nephews age wrong - if he's at secondary he'll be 11 or 12, not 10!

I was in school in Bucks, born 1974. My experience was:
First (infant) school age 5-8 (3 years)
Middle school age 8-12 (4 years)
Secondary school age 12-18 (6 years)

I'm now in Sussex and it's
Infant 3 years age 4-7
Junior 4 years age 7-11
Secondary 5 years age 11-16
College 2 years age 16-18

Some schools join Infant and Junior together, some Secondaries go through from age 11-18.

In some places they did have middle schools. Sheffield as one of them. I don’t think they were ever universal.

I think you might not be remembering correctly, I don't think 7 has ever been the age you start school in the UK? I went to primary school 4-11 then secondary school until 18 (born early 80s). My DC do lower school 4-9, middle school 9-13 and upper school 13-18 but that's rare, most areas don't have middle schools.

The system my girls are in is:
First school reception to y4
Middle y5 to y8
Upper y9 onwards, up to end of sixth form if required
We're in the South West but this is not usual.

Born 1986.

Started Primary school term I turned 5 (so only one term of reception for me, followed by years 1-6)

Went to Secondary school 11-18. Although could leave at 16. (Years 7-13)

Mine changed from infant 4-7, juniors 7-11, secondary(including grammars) 11-18 to junior/middle 7-12 secondary(comprehensive) 12-18, now reverted to junior 7-11 comprehensive 11-18.

Born 1970, I did what @AuntieDickhead has described. This is pretty standard, has been for decades in England. My dc still have first (YR-Y5), middle (Y6-Y8) and high (Y9-Y11) school. It's not even borough wide, it's to do with building accommodation.

It sounds as if you grew up in a system with middle schools, but most in England are 4-11 (sometimes split into infants/junior) and secondary.

I always thought middle schools sounded like a good idea - keep the awkward yr5-yr8 full on puberty hormone laden children away from the younger ones and those doing formal exams 🤣.

We had primary 5 to 9, middle school until 13 and then senior school starting in what is now year 9.

I wish they'd reinstate middle schools they were a really good stepping stone

It won’t be Scotland, even here generally children start at 5 with some being 4 coming up for 5.

Primary 1 - Primary 7: 5 - 12
Secondary 1 - Secondary 6: 12 - 18 (although can leave at 16 to an “approved” destination)

I'm 50 and I had the same school set up as you, OP. Some regions of the UK had the middle school system and others didn't. I had infants school 5- 9; middle school 9-13 and high school 13 -16. Some regions still have middle schools but they are in a minority now. It's a shame because I think it's a better system for children.

It depends where you were. DH was in Leighton Buzzard - he went to primary, middle and high school like you.
I was in Essex and went to infant (4 to 7), junior (7 to 11), secondary (11 to 18). Other schools in the same town were primary (infant and junior combined).

I was born in 1974 and grew up in a part of the country with a three tier school system (they still have it).
First school was age 4-9 (reception to Y4)
Middle school 9-13 (Y5 to Y8)
High school 13-16/18 (Y9 to Y11/13)

Not many areas had that system. It has good and bad points.

I had
infants rec-yr2 4-7
junior yr3-yr6 7-11
secondary yr7-yr11 11-16

DH had
primary rec-yr6 4-11
secondary yr7-yr11 11-16

Our DC had
first school rec-yr4 4-9 yrs
middle school yr5-yr8 9-13 yrs
upper secondary yr9-yr11 13-16 yrs

Wow thanks for the responses.

m the age brackets I outlined - I did mention they weren’t 100% accurate but close.
many said the correct years and ages but yes I went to middle school.

Why I’m posting:

1. i assumed it was country wide the way I had it. But obviously not. I also assumed it was a way to make reduction in education cost by “bundling” them all together, similar to how it’s cheaper to have more students in class per teacher.
2. my nephew joined recently and instantly my suspicion was right in that I think it’s a bad idea - he has seen quite “guys with beards pushing the new ones just joined around”. and this was because when it rained, the younger kids usually separate from the 15/16s then had to share the concrete playground with the older teens.

i just think it’s cost cutting and if I were a parent, I wouldn’t feel comfortable about 16 year olds among 10/11 year olds.

I’m sure someone can come up with some good reasons for it but I am confident that the risks outweigh the positives.

obviously if it’s a very very well run school then it wouldn’t make any difference but in his experience so far, he clearly doesn’t like it.

15/16 are still kids theirselves, growing up. They may not have fully learned why it’s wrong to punch/kick etc, and if a 10/11 os nearby, incredibly vulnerable, I see huge potential for abuse.

at least if it’s middle school then high school, it’s then 13s to 16s mixing.

just my take.

First year secondary is 11/12, not 10/11! And I don't think there's a particular problem with year 11s picking on year 7s - bullying is far more likely to be peer on peer. I don't think many 15/16 year olds have beards either!

Your nephews just struggling to settle in that's all. It's a big change going from the oldest of one school to the youngest of another, and that change always had to happen. I'm sure he'll be ok soon.

Oh and 15/16 year olds certainly know not to punch and hit - I'd expect 7/8 year olds to know that. That's a bit of an odd comment.