1. School in Great Britain
Compulsory school
Not compulsory school
Primary school
from 5 to 7
Secondary school
from 7 to 11
College of
further education
from 16 to 18
University
School time
Examinations

2. Compulsory school
Education is compulsory between the age of 5 to 16

3. Not compulsory school
After the age of 16 students may choose whether to continue their studies. If they wish they can attend a college for 2 years.

4. Primary education
Primary education is divided into Infant School or Junior School.
In the Infant School, from 5 to 7, students take part in play activities and also begin to learn the skills of reading, writing and arithmetics
In the Junir School, from 7 to 11, stuents begin to study more specific subjects (history and geography, art, music, physical education…). They have the same teacher for all subjects but a different teacher every year.

5. Secondary education
In secondary education you generally find students of mixed habilities but there are schools which select their students according to particular entry tests.
At this point students have more subjects and lots of sports activities. They also have religion and may decide wether to attend these lessons or not.

6. College of further education
When students finish thir secondary school they may decide to attend a college, usually from 16 to 18.

7. University
After college students may go to university but they know that there is a fixed number of places, so the choice is based on interviews and exam grades. Generally you need at least two A level passes to get into any university.

8. Examinations
Every year there is an internal scool examination but there are national examination school stages at 7, at 11, at 14, at 16 (the so-called GCSE very important because they sign the end of compulsory school) and at 18, if you go on to college (they are called GCSA, very similar to GCSE but at a more advanced level)

9. School time
Children go to school from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 to They start their school day with “assembly”, for registration, prayers or just for listening to the head teacher for particular problems, events and so on.
In the afternoon they can choose among a great variety of clubs, sports and extra activities.
The school year is devided into 3 terms: autumn, spring and summer.
They have summer holyday from the middle of July to the end of August; Christmas and Easter holiday for 2/3 weeks and a half term holiday (one week) each term.