PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Children attend a primary school for 6 years, from 5 to 11. Primary school may be housed in a single building with two departments: Infant and Junior or in separate schools, Infants (5 to 7) and Junior (7 to 11).
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
A comprehensive school offers 5-year courses to pupils of all levels of ability. Promotion to a higher class every year does not depend upon examination results, it is almost automatic. Pupils never repeat the year.
EXAMINATIONS GCSEs and A-levels. GCSEs stands for the General Certificate of Secondary Education. Pupils sit for the GCSEs exams at the end of 5-year course. They usually take as many subjects as possible.
More ambitious pupils continue with 6th form. They remain at school for two more years and take their A-level exams.
THE SIXTH FORM
Most secondary schools have 6th-form departments providing one- or two-year courses. Some pupils, however go to a special 6th-form college, where the atmosphere is less like at school and where they are treated as adults.
At the 6th-form stage students are highly specialised in three or four subjects which will prepare students either for entry to University, Polytechnic or College of Further education, or for direct entry into employment in industry or commerce. …
