Sally Aguilar: United Kingdom's Educational System

Life is full of surprises, this is a universal knowledge but my experience upon listening while exploring the different parts of the world and their educational system is fun and I am really looking forward to this subject in order to get to know about their education, location, beautiful places and great people.

From the enthusiastic sharing of the reporter, Ms. Bernadette Calvo last January 22,2011, my past knowledge was refreshed and enhanced about the countries of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom is a term used to describe England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. These four countries together form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which is a sovereign state.

By law, all children in England and Wales between ages 5 and 16 must receive a full-time education, while in Northern Ireland, children must begin at age 4. For children under age 5, publicly-funded nurseries and pre-schools are available for a limited number of hours each week. After the age of 16, students can attend sixth form colleges or other further education institutions. Both options offer general education courses in addition to more specific vocational or applied subjects.

The UK introduced a National Curriculum in 1992 and state schools are required to adhere to it until students reach age 16. The Education and Skills Act of 2008 raised the compulsory age to 18, effective 2013 for 17 year-olds and in 2015 for 18 year-olds. (Independent schools are not obliged to adhere to the National Curriculum.)

National Curriculum core subjects are: English (Welsh is also a core subject in Welsh-speaking schools), mathematics, science, design and technology, information and communication technology, history, geography, modern foreign languages, music, art and design, physical education, and citizenship. In addition to these core subjects are a number of other compulsory courses, such as religious education.
Northern Ireland follows a similar framework; however, schools can develop additional curriculum elements to express their particular ethos and meet pupils' individual needs and circumstances. The curriculum also includes the Irish language in Irish-speaking schools.