Preparing for a UK School
UK education
The United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Each runs its own school system, but they share the same shape: children start school at four or five and finish at 18, when most go on to university. The chart shows the year groups in England and Wales, where most international pupils study.
UK Education System
| Age | England & Wales |
|---|---|
| 20–21 | University year 3 |
| 19–20 | University year 2 |
| 18–19 | University year 1 |
| 17–18 | Year 13 A level / IB |
| 16–17 | Year 12 A level / IB |
| 15–16 | Year 11 GCSE / IGCSE |
| 14–15 | Year 10 GCSE / IGCSE |
| 13–14 | Year 9 |
| 12–13 | Year 8 |
| 11–12 | Year 7 |
| 10–11 | Year 6 |
| 9–10 | Year 5 |
| 8–9 | Year 4 |
| 7–8 | Year 3 |
| 6–7 | Year 2 |
| 5–6 | Year 1 |
| 4–5 | Reception |
| 3–4 | Nursery |
Stage
- University
- Secondary school / senior school
- Primary school / prep school
Public exams
- GCSE
- General Certificate of Secondary Education
- IGCSE
- International GCSE
- A level
- Advanced Level
- IB
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
Types of School
Independent Schools
Independent (private) schools charge fees and are run by their own governors, not by the government. They set their own curriculum and admissions, and many take boarders.
Most international pupils, including families from Türkiye, choose an independent school, often for its small classes and the range of activities outside lessons.
State Schools
State schools are funded by the government and free for children who live in the UK. Most follow the national curriculum and are run by local councils or academy trusts.
Children who come to the UK on a Child Student visa can only attend an independent school.
The School Year
The school year starts in September and ends in July, in three terms. Each term also has a week off in the middle, called half term. Universities set their own dates on a similar pattern.
Autumn Term
Early September to mid-December
Christmas holiday: about three weeks
Spring Term
Early January to late March
Easter holiday: two to three weeks
Summer Term
Mid-April to early July
Summer holiday: about eight weeks
Public Exams
GCSE and IGCSE
Pupils take GCSEs at 16, at the end of Year 11, usually in eight to ten subjects including English, maths and the sciences. Grades run from 9, the highest, down to 1. The IGCSE is an international version that many independent schools use for some subjects.
A Levels
A levels are a two-year course in Years 12 and 13. Pupils usually study three or four subjects in depth and take the exams at 18, graded from A* to E. They are the main route into UK universities.
IB Diploma
Some schools offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma instead of A levels: a two-year course of six subjects plus Theory of Knowledge, an extended essay and creativity, activity and service (CAS). It is scored out of 45.
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