The main standard in the British schools are not the years but the levels of study – GCSE, SCE, As and A level. Britons enter school at the age of five, and they are obliged to stay in school up until the age of sixteen. Afterwards, it is up to them what type of studies they continue.
Understanding the British Education system is necessary to enroll your child into a British education system school or look into various education system schools.
British education system division:
A British Education system has four parts – primary, secondary, further and higher. There are four other key stages for the primary and secondary education system. In some schools, secondary starts with years 7 and 8, while in others, years 7 and 8 are included in primary. In the UK British system, children have to legally attend primary and secondary, basically until 16 years old.
To enter secondary school, students need to take some exams. Year 9 from secondary school is their basis on GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) preparation.
While year 9 is the GCSE foundation, years 10 and 11 prepare students for the GCSE exams. In year 11, students take their exams and receive their GCSE certification.
If you are an international student and want to continue your university studies in the UK, you can opt for an intensive one year IGCSE program.
Once students complete the GCSE program, they have to decide whether to leave school or continue.
Year 12 and 13 are two-year programmes when students specialise in 3 or 4 subjects to prepare them for university studies. At the end of year 12, students take their AS Level examinations, which will prepare them for the A-Level courses and tests at the end of year 13. After the A level (Advanced Level) tests, students receive the A level certificate.
International Baccalaureate is a program that some of the independent schools have. It offers the possibility to study more than the 3 or 4 courses that A level provides. The IB program adds six more courses to your studies curricula, 3 of a higher and 3 of standard levels.
Mandatory courses
GCSE
Each student needs to have five mandatory courses:
- English, Maths, Sciences, Humanity and Languages
Besides them, students can choose from other available courses offered by the school. They can range from Music, Drama to Design Technology and Computer Science.
AS/A Level
Students at the AS/A level program have to choose between 3 to 4 mandatory subjects that best fit their interests.
Recognition
The A level is internationally recognised, so students can choose to go to any UK university or a university from any other country.
School year
The school year starts in September and ends in July in most of the regions in England.
It is usually divided into six terms, while some schools prefer three terms division.
These are as follows:
– September to October
– October to December
– January to February
– February to March
– April to May
– June to July
School hours
The school hours range is between 5 to 6 hours, starting around 8 or 9 in the morning and ending at about 3 or 4 in the afternoon. However, both the schedule and the number of school hours per day depend a lot on the school.
Can you choose a British Education system in another country?
Countries worldwide offer British curricula and access to British tutors through various private schools.
Apart from offering a high-class curriculum, entering a British education system helps you access any university in the world. So, as many parents and children alike, think about the future nowadays – it is essential to choose an education system that will prepare you for your university admissions, not only from the exam levels you have but also from the knowledge you gain.
Spark School is one of the International Hybrid High Schools that offer British curricula to whoever wants to have the flexibility of an online school and the knowledge and benefits of a British system education.
Why does the world love a British education?
Not a few times did we encounter people stuck on offering British education to their children. But what is it about British education that makes them so keen to choose it and look for the best British schools out there?
According to what we have heard and some of our research, many reasons support the British school education choice.
Some of the reasons are:
– Academic quality.
– It is an international brand in itself.
– Trustworthy – the system, grades, and accessibility to information relevant to your future as an adult.
– Extra-curricular activities that are very attractive. There is a wide array of them to choose from, and each school can offer different programs – face to face or online.
– An international education program prepares you to go to any university of your choice.
– Easier access to a good university, as the A level, is very well seen by most of the good universities.
– A bridge between cultures. There are students all over the world, and you can connect and form friendships and have global awareness at your fingertip.
Conclusion
A national education system from your country of residence is, by all means, an excellent choice for education. Each education system has its advantages and you have to know what your plans and desires for the future are, to be able to choose accordingly.
Education is the key to all possibilities.
Understanding together 10 benefits of a British education in Romania
So why should you choose a British education system in Romania? What does it help you with if you choose a Romanian University?
Join the webinar, participate in discussions, and hear about the Rumours, Myths and Truths about British Education, why does it worth and how it can help you in your life as an adult.
Host:
Ruxandra Mercea, Founder of Spark School
Guests:
Teodora Cleja, Transylvania College Alumni
