The different approaches to educational structure within the UK
The Department for Children, Schools and Families only deals with education in England; in Wales its equivalent is the Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills Department within the Welsh Assembly; in Scotland it is the Education and Lifelong Learning Department within the Scottish Parliament, and in Northern Ireland it is the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DENI).
Each of these departments not only has a different approach to education but also often uses different terminology to describe the various age groups and sectors; this is particularly so in Scotland. It is worth remembering that this terminology is often confusing to both parents and professionals. Below is an attempt to translate English and Welsh educational structures into that current in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Key stages, age and year groups
Age of pupils |
England and Wales |
Northern Ireland |
Scotland |
|
4/5 |
Key stage 1 Reception |
KS1 Primary 1 |
Primary 1 |
|
5/6 |
Yr 1 |
P2 |
P2 |
|
6/7 |
Yr 2 |
P3 |
P3 |
|
7/8 |
Key stage 2 Yr 3 |
P4 |
P4 |
|
8/9 |
Yr 4 |
KS2 P5 |
P5 |
|
9/10 |
Yr 5 |
P6 |
P6 |
|
10/11 |
Yr 6 |
P7 |
P7 |
|
11/12 |
Key stage 3 Yr 7 |
KS3 Yr 8 |
Secondary 1 |
|
12/13 |
Yr 8 |
Yr 9 |
S2 |
|
13/14 |
Yr 9 |
Yr 10 |
S3 |
|
14/15 |
Key stage 4 Yr 10 |
KS4 Yr 11 |
S4 |
|
15/16 |
Yr 11 |
Yr 12 |
S5 |
|
16/17 |
Key stage 5 Yr 12 (Lower 6th) |
KS5 Yr 13 (L6) |
S6 |
|
17/18 |
Yr 13 (Upper 6th) |
Yr 14 (U6) |
- |
England, Wales and Northern Ireland all use the National Curriculum related levels of attainment as a measure of pupil achievement.
Tests, curriculum and school status
England |
Scotland |
Wales |
Northern Ireland |
|
|
Specialist schools |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Private companies allowed to set up state schools |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Secondary league tables |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Statutory curriculum |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Primary literacy and numeracy strategies |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
National tests for 11-year-olds |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Selective education |
Yes - in some areas |
No |
No |
Yes |
For a article from the TES on the differences in expected levels in literacy between Scotland and England, visit www.tes.co.uk/search/story/?story_id=2460038
Summary of how education in Wales differs from England
- Pupils to learn Welsh from the age of five and can be taught through the medium of Welsh.
- No league tables - Primary league tables were never introduced and secondary ones were scrapped
- Parents entitled to information about schools' exam results from their schools or local education authority
- No national tests for seven-year-olds - those for 11 and 14-year-olds under review
- No education action zones
- No "fresh start" schools or privatised education authorities
- No prescribed literacy hour, although Estyn (inspectorate) provides guidance on good practice
- No Standards Fund bidding (the nearest equivalent, Grants for Education Support and Training, is principally driven by formula allocation)
- No centrally-funded behaviour units
- A foundation stage for three to seven-year-olds is being planned
- Special Educational Needs regional centres and an SEN tribunal for Wales are planned
- No advanced skills teachers
- Teachers pay threshold arrangements administered through the Leas rather than the private sector.
- Different national curriculum *(technology optional, Welsh compulsory)
- Different schemes of work
- No "naming and shaming"
- No whole LEA inspections - themed inspections instead (so far covering numeracy and literacy - showed councils' support for literacy and numeracy makes a difference)
- No tuition fees for students (in the planning stage)
- Primary children are being taught a foreign language from the age of seven in nearly 100 schools.
- Welsh baccalaureate piloted in 18 schools - including mandatory core of maths and English.
- No specialist schools or privately run city academies
