In this Tag Archive you can find all of the articles on our site related to the UK School System: and the parts it is made up of.
The UK School System covers about 13 – 15 years of schooling. Most children start a form of schooling at Nursery level, by the age of 3. From Nursery to Reception usually involves starting in a more formalised schooling system. Then the real choices are made. Some parents make use of state-funded schooling for the first few years, while others choose only independent schools. Some parents only use state-funded schools. Parents also have various options. Firstly, primary school, pre-preparatory school or preparatory school, followed by secondary school, sixth form or college.
State-funded schools have to abide by the National Curriculum and other statutory requirements. Independent schools have much more freedom. We try and provide a balanced view of the UK School System through our articles in this archive. With a clear focus on private school and grammar school entrance, these systems might be highlighted slightly more.
Murray Morrison is the creator of Tassomai, an online learning platform that embeds knowledge and helps children prepare for exams like the 11+ and 13+. Murray explains how regular retrieval practice through platforms like Tassomai builds solid foundations and ensures students go into their entrance exams confident and ready to get their best possible results.…
Today would have been the first day of the Summer Term 2020. As schools remain closed in the UK, for most it is a return to homeschooling. With no indication as to when schools are meant to open again, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson did, however, throw parents a bone in the form of an online learning…
BBC’s Ten Pieces Live Lessons – introduction to classical music Google Arts & Culture – this one is for the whole family. Virtual tours to more than 1200 museums and galleries. Just see some of these available Machu Picchu, Andes Mountains, Peru The Vatican, Rome – The tour is compatible with WebVR, so you can pop on…
I watched a film once where the main character was completely ambidextrous. He could write a poem with one hand while drawing a picture with the other. How I would have loved to have a skill like that. So why is it that teachers push kids to choose a dominant hand? Why is one-handed dominance…
Designing School Grounds to assist Learning and Teaching School grounds can provide an enormously valuable resource for learning and teaching – for any subject, at short notice and for little or no cost. So it’s vitally important that their capacity to support curriculum delivery and opportunities for learning through play are considered in their design.…
Common Entrance Pass Mark Typically, the average pass mark is between 55 – 60%. Although there are difficulty levels. The standard of work for Common Entrance in most subjects is in advance of a student’s academic age. Some subjects, such as English, involve working at GCSE level. What is the Common Entrance exam? Firstly, it’s not…
When do school open days take place and what do I look for at school open days are answered in the blog below. School Open Days Is your child starting secondary school next September? As you know, applications for secondary schools for September 2020 start is 31 October 2019. Therefore, open days are usually held…
There is a new ‘no fees schools’ scheme to promote access to London’s independent school sector amongst those who cannot afford to pay termly fees. No Fees Schools Listed below are all the no fees schools in alphabetical order. You you find no fees schools admission policies and how to arrange your fee assistance. Alleyn’s School…
How will Brexit affect British school children? It isn’t just adults who are affected by protracted Brexit negotiations. Children are too. Some are under the impression there is no longer any point learning a language. Others are simply worried that Europeans will no longer like them. According to a recent report from the British Council,…
Welcome to our Boarding Schools Guide, including the new low-cost private schools being introduced. Most people experience school through the eyes of a day scholar. However, there are cases where it’s viable to send a child to live at school as a boarder. A residential school where students live as well as study during the…
International Baccalaureate Results Day 2019 5th July — International Baccalaureate (IB) Results Day. A very exciting and inspiring day. Passing your IB Diploma is a fantastic achievement, one you should be immensely proud of, but what actually happens on Results Day itself and what options do you have? IB results are issued on 5 July…
It’s not just exam results that will get your son or daughter set for career success. If all that your child leaves school, university or an apprenticeship with is grades, they may have a very difficult time in the job market. Start setting your child up for success now Even if your son or daughter…
The focus of this page is What are the new GCSE pass marks? Introduction to the new GCSE pass marks? You may be used to the GCSE pass grade being a ‘C’. However, the new GCSE pass grade is a GCSE Grade 4. Thus, GCSE Grade 7 approximates to the ‘old school’ GCSE grade ‘A’. The…
Firstly, we have a look at the different types of 11 Plus tests independent schools use for school entrance. The different exam boards, where you still find 11 Plus and content covered by each. Key 11 Plus Exam Board Differences CEM, GL and CSSE 11 Plus exams CEM and GL are two different exam boards…
With the upcoming exam times, the following primary school league tables might give you a good indication of which schools are performing. If you are looking for a good primary school so your child is prepared for a place in a good secondary school It’s not so easy choosing the right primary school for your…
Our latest Pupil Pulpit guest blog comes from Eve, aged 14, who relates her recent personal experiences of selecting her GCSE Options. PUPIL PULPIT – Eve’s GCSE Options Recently I made my options decision for GCSE. The choices or amount of freedom varies from school to school but I had to choose between history and geography,…
Our Which School Guides are designed to help with some of the main school entrance dilemmas that many parents face. Go Private? or Grammar School? Which Sixth Form? Should they spend the money and send their child to a Private School? Or is going down the Grammar School route a better option? Our Which School Guides…
What Are Montessori Schools? If you’ve been searching for a nursery for your child, you may have come across the term Montessori School. But what does that mean, exactly? These schools follow an educational movement developed by the Italian doctor and educator, Maria Montessori, in the early twentieth century. Dr Montessori’s educational philosophy is based…
Everyone knows education is one of the most valued things in our culture; it shapes young minds that take us into our terrifying future. Children starting school in September 2019 won’t be retiring until around 2090. We children have to be taught how to survive in the world in 30 years. Yet we don’t know…
As private schools make offers to students, we look at the most prestigious private schools in the UK Getting into the most prestigious private schools Over the coming weeks, you will find out whether your child has been successful in getting into his or her private school of choice. Fingers crossed you get the one…
There are many private schools, independent school and public school differences. Public school differences A private school is a school that is not financed by the State but by school fees paid by parents. Private schools can catertor any age group and there is a considerable range in the size of the fees they charge.…
The Sunday Times Parent Power league tables 2019 make a fascinating read for anyone looking at which secondary schools to send their children to. This year’s results reveal that state schools are starting to close the gap in the independent sector. Below we have a closer look at these results and what they mean. Sunday…
The top Private Girls Schools in London offer an excellent academic education. Living in London, or relocating here? Many education experts believe that girls’ only education is best for girls. This will, of course, depend on your daughter and the best environment for her. To help with your choice, see five of our top picks below: Central…
Children are missing out on their chosen schools with many oversubscribed schools, especially in big cities. However, the situation varies considerably across the UK. We look at some of the areas where demand is outstripping supply. Top selective schools Getting your child into their chosen school is getting more difficult than ever. According to figures…
We want the best education for our children; we want them to reach their full potential and to remain healthy in mind and body in the process. What’s the best education for my children? Private or grammar school education? We cannot predict where their journey will take them or when their talents may begin to…
Welcome to our study guides. We start with our introduction to T Levels. What are T Levels? How are T Levels subjects explained? Our ‘T Levels explained’ blog gives all the details you need on these new technical qualifications. They are designed as two-year courses to offer young people aged 16 to 18 a technical…
Welcome to our London Pre-schools guide. London Pre-schools This blog endeavours to touch on the following issues within the independent education system; What ages for which stage? Which pre-school? When to go to prep school? Private secondary school vs grammar school? How to choose a private senior school? When to decide on GCSE options subjects?…
What are the key points to remember when asking for a private school bursary? Want to send your child to private school, but don’t have the necessary funds? We give you some top private school bursary tips below. Asking for a private school bursary The cost of private schools continues to increase above the rate…
Everything you need to know – here are our 11 Plus application tips. 11 Plus Application Tips Plus, the differences in your grammar school application are detailed below. Grammar schools are state secondary schools which select their pupils by means of an examination taken by children at age 10 or 11. This is known as…
In this GL Assessment CAT4 Tests Practice Intro, we will discuss all details surrounding the CAT4 and it’s uses. Parents’ Guide to the CAT4 Most schools inform parents about CAT4 tests in advance. As a result, parents get to know their plans and expectations from students. However, pupils are advised against making preparations for the…