The education system in the UK: an overview

Many families will choose to send their children through the education system in the UK because it’s top quality. In fact, according to the World Population Review, it was ranked in 2021 as number two in the world.

And if you’re considering moving to the United Kingdom – either as a family unit or an international student – we’re here to help you answer any questions you might have regarding education in the UK.

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WorldRemit Content Team

5 mins readUpdated
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Education stages in the UK

The UK education system breaks down into four key stages which form its education levels:

  • Key stage 1: 5 to 7 years old

  • Key stage 2: 7 to 11 years old

  • Key stage 3: 11 to 14 years old

  • Key stage 4: 14 to 16 years old

Early stages education (or pre-school education)

Education begins for children in the UK at around three or four years old. This is because, since September 2010, the parents of children at these ages are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year.

This education takes place in a variety of settings, such as nurseries, privately-run childminding homes and reception classes in primary schools. Children are assessed by a framework called the Early Years Foundation Stage or EYFS.

This assessment is applied through games and play which teach a variety of subjects, such as communication and language, physical development, mathematics, literacy and social development.

Your child won’t have to sit for any tests to assess these criteria; their progress will be reviewed when they are two or three years old by an early years practitioner or health visitor. They will also be assessed at the end of the school year when they turn five.

Primary education

You may be wondering, “What age do kids start primary school in the UK?” Primary school starts when the child is just under 5 years old. The child may be in a nursery or looked after at home up until the point when they start attending primary school.

The primary stage covers three age ranges: nursery (under 5), infant (5 to 7 or 8) and junior (up to 11 or 12). The main goal of primary education is to create a foundation for learning that increases literacy and numeracy among pupils. The subjects studied during these years include English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Art and Design, Music, Physical Education, as well as Ancient and Modern Foreign Languages.

SATs, or Standard Assessment Tests, take place at key stage 1 (year two or age 7) and key stage 2 (year 6 or age 11). They test maths and reading comprehension, as well as English grammar. The key stage 1 tests are less formal than in key stage 2, which are timed and sent away to be marked externally. A score of 100 or more means the pupil is meeting the government’s expected standard.

Secondary education

Another question you might have is “What age do you start secondary school in the UK?” Secondary school starts at age 11. The first two years of secondary school in the UK are years 7 (age 11 to 12) and 8 (age 12 to 13). Overall, secondary school ranges from year 7 to year 11.

All students in these years will study English, Maths, Sciences, a Humanities course and Modern Language. They may also study an optional subject such as Computer Science, Drama, Art, Music or Latin.

Some students will sit the Common Entrance exam in year 7. These take place three times during the year; November, January, and May/June. Their acceptance into grade 9 may be conditional based on how they perform on the Common Entrance exam.

Year 9 is an important year in the UK school system. It’s this year that students will transition from Junior School to Senior School, and it forms an important foundation for the GCSE programme. But it’s in the last two years (year 10 and 11) that students’ results really count. They will sit for their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams.

Further education

At the age of 16, students can pursue further education in order to get their A-Level (advanced level) qualifications. Students will specialise in three or four subjects, one of which they may intend to study in university. Students who want to study more than just a few subjects can pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme instead.

The UK school system also offers BTEC courses for students who would rather have more practical, hands-on learning in specific subjects, or who find exams challenging. After each unit, students are assessed through assignments or tests rather than at the end of the programme, as it happens with GCSE or A-Level students.

Higher education

The UK education system offers three-year university programmes that end with a Bachelor’s degree qualification. You can earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), or a Bachelor of Science (BSc).

You can also find some one to two year vocational diploma programmes. From there, you can pursue further study in the form of a Master's programme or a Postdoctorate.

The UK is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities, Oxford and Cambridge. It also has several high-profile universities that are well-regarded for their breakthroughs in research, such as Imperial College in London. Overall, there are around 164 higher education institutions in the UK, so it’s highly likely that you’ll be able to find a programme that’s right for you at one of these institutions.

Grading systems in the UK

As of 2018, the GCSE grading system is ranked on a scale from 1 to 9, with 9 being the highest.

The university grading system is as follows:

Grade Letter: A

Percentage Score: 70% – 100%

Grade Definition: Excellent to Outstanding (PASS)

Degree Class:

- Honours Degree: First

- Foundation Degree: Distinction

Grade Letter: B

Percentage Score: 60% – 69%

Grade Definition: Good to Very Good (PASS)

Degree Class:

- Honours Degree: Upper Second 2:1

- Foundation Degree: Merit

Grade Letter: C

Percentage Score: 50% – 59%

Grade Definition: Satisfying (PASS)

Degree Class:

- Honours Degree: Lower Second 2:2

- Foundation Degree: Pass

Grade Letter: D

Percentage Score: 40% – 49%

Grade Definition: Sufficient (PASS)

Degree Class:

- Honours Degree: Third 3

- Foundation Degree: Pass

Grade Letter: E

Percentage Score: 30% – 39%

Grade Definition: Unsatisfactory (FAIL)

Degree Class:

- Honours Degree: Fail

- Foundation Degree: Fail

Grade Letter: F

Percentage Score: 0 – 29%

Grade Definition: Unsatisfactory (FAIL)

Degree Class:

- Honours Degree: Fail

- Foundation Degree: Fail

School admissions: how to apply?

How you apply to get your child a place at a local school will depend on the council district that you live in. You should apply through your local council, even if you’re planning to move to another area, or have just moved to England. In this event, you may need to supply a proof of address to prove that you live in the area before the start of the next school term.

When filling in the application, you’ll need to list a few schools in order of preference. Another question you might have is when to apply.

You must apply to primary schools a year before the child starts school. Applications open in September and close on 15 January. Your child will be three, or have just turned four, when you apply. You’ll need to apply then even if you want your child to start mid-way through the year.

The deadline for applying to secondary schools is 31 October. You’ll find out if your child has been successful on 1 March. For spaces in primary schools, you’ll be contacted by 16 April.

If the school year has already started, you’ll still need to contact your local council to find out which schools still have spaces available.

Studying in the UK as an international student

One thing to be aware of when applying for schools as an international student is that not all higher education providers are referred to as universities. These are the two conditions which make it possible for an institution to be called a university:

  • If it gets an approval by the Privy Council under Further and Higher Education Act 1992

  • If it gets an approval under the provisions of the Companies Act 2006

You’ll also need a student visa in order to begin your studies in the UK.  If you’re aged 16 and a resident of the European Economic Area or Switzerland you can apply for a Tier 4 visa (General student), the official student visa in the UK.

Another important step is making sure you have enough money to finance your studies. This will become integral to your visa application, as reviewers will want to see that you can fund your tuition expenses and other costs.

To fund your studies, you can look into a range of scholarships, grants and bursaries, including:

  • Academic, merit and excellence scholarships

  • Subject-specific scholarships

  • Performance-based scholarships

  • Equal access or sanctuary scholarships

  • Disability scholarships

To apply to a UK university, you’ll need to go through an online portal called UCAS (Universities and College Admissions Service). This portal will require details about your educational history, references, as well as a personal statement to assess your application. There’s also a fee to pay for every application submitted through UCAS.

Your deadline for applying is 15 October for courses at Oxford or Cambridge, as well as for specialist courses in dentistry, medicine or veterinary medicine. For all other courses, the deadline is 25 January.

Make your move as smooth as possible with WorldRemit

Want to know more about life in the UK before you move? Here’s our guidance on how to open a bank account in the UK. Or, if your sights are set on the capital, explore our overview of the cost of living in London.

No matter where your educational journey takes you in the UK, WorldRemit is here to make life easier. We provide fast, secure, and low-cost money transfers abroad – all from our easy-to-use app. So next time your friends and family back home need a quick top up of their accounts, you’ll be there with WorldRemit’s help.

Education in the UK: FAQs

Does the UK have a good education system?

Yes, the UK has been ranked second in the world for its excellent education system, according to the World Population Review.

Is education free in the UK?

Higher education is not free in the United Kingdom, but primary and secondary education are – provided that you’re sending your children to a state school and not a private school.

How many secondary schools are there in the UK?

In 2020/2021, there were about 4,190 secondary schools in the United Kingdom.

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