The UK education system

Here is a brief introduction to the education system in the UK, including primary schools, secondary schools and university preparation in the UK.

The British education system may seem bewildering at first glance, but it is based on long-lived traditions and follows a strict code of rules. Education principles differ slightly in the four countries which constitute the UK, so we will provide you with the basic information on school institutions.

Primary education in the UK

In England and Wales, the law states that all children aged five to sixteen must receive full-time education. In Northern Ireland, the compulsory age for starting school is four. For children under age of five, publicly-funded nurseries and pre-schools are available for a limited number of hours each week.

Children leave primary school at the age of eleven, moving on to secondary school. Parents can choose to educate their children at state or private schools. All children in the UK between the ages of five and sixteen are entitled to a free place at a state school, in contrast with the private education sector, where taxes are quite expensive.

A useful piece of advice is for all parents to apply to the school where they wish to enroll their child. Even if your child's current primary or nursery school is linked to the school you want them to attend next, you won't be considered for a place unless you apply. Making an early start means that you will be less likely to miss key deadlines. 

In the UK there are four main types of state schools. First is the community school, which is run by the local authority and has strong links with the local community, sometimes offering use of their facilities and providing services like childcare and adult learning classes.

There are also foundation and trust schools. Foundation schools are run by their own governing body, which employs the staff and sets the admissions criteria; while a trust school is a type of foundation school which forms a charitable trust with an outside partner. Voluntary-aided schools are mainly religious or 'faith' schools, although anyone can apply for a place. As with foundation schools, the governing body employs the staff and sets the admission criteria. Voluntary-controlled schools are similar to voluntary-aided schools, but are run by the local authority.

Secondary education in the UK

At the age of eleven, children start their secondary-school education. From the age of eleven to fourteen, students in British state and private schools study a broad range of 10-15 subjects. Among them are: English, Maths, Science, Design and Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), History, Geography, Modern Foreign Languages, Art and Design, Music, Citizenship, Physical Education. Careers education and guidance, Sex and Relationship Education and Religious education may also be included in the education curriculum.

Secondary school graduation covers the period from age fourteen to fifteen. After this two-year period, students take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) state examinations. The GCSE is a single-subject examination, set and marked by independent examination boards. Students usually take up to ten (there is no upper or lower limit) GCSE examinations in different subjects, including mathematics and English language. After this examination, students may choose to either leave school or continue with their education. They may continue at vocational or technical colleges, or pursue higher education in a university.

University preparation in the UK

At the age of sixteen, following two years of study, students may take A-Levels (Advanced Level examinations) required for university entrance in the UK. Over these two years following secondary school education, students specialise in three or four subjects that are usually relevant to the degree subject they wish to follow at university.

At the end of the first year, students take AS level examinations. They continue with three or four of these subjects in the second year and convert them into full A level qualifications at the end of the year. A-Levels are state examinations and are recognised by all UK universities, and by institutions worldwide.

Schools in the UK do not generally rank pupils within their year; currently, the principal standards are the GCSE, SCE and AS and A-Level examination results.

18 Plus

Once a student has been through all the misadventures and hardship of compulsory education, it is time to decide his or her own fate. The first three years of a university education will be in an undergraduate degree programme. An undergraduate degree may be a BA (Bachelor of Arts), BEng (Bachelor of Engineering), and BSc (Bachelor of Science).

On completion, a student may also apply for a postgraduate programme and a PhD. What makes higher education so appealing is that -- unlike school -- students are at university or college because they want to be, learning more about a subject or job they really enjoy.

Choosing a university or college is an important decision, so examine all of the options. 

In addition to academic achievements at university, students also gain many social advantages. They will be involved in various out-of-school activities, find new friends and gain insight into future careers.

Ten things I wish I'd known before becoming a law student

From: www.theguardian.com

When choosing my degree, I was young, naive and full of false expectations. Here's what I've learnt

As a sixth form student choosing to do a law degree, I wish I'd have been better informed about what it's really like to be a law student. I was young, naive and full of false expectations. I hope that these ten things will be useful to those considering a law degree and that current law students can relate to them.

1. Career prospects

Law is a well respected degree but its graduate prospects are not as good as universities like to make out. Law firms and chambers have been reducing the number of training contracts and pupillages, with some firms cancelling their next trainee intake. Furthermore, a law degree does not guarantee riches. There is a stark contrast between the high earnings people think lawyers are paid and what they are actually paid. I'm sure that the Criminal Bar Association can verify this.

2. There's so much reading

I had some idea that there would be a lot of reading, but I had no idea that horror stories of law students spending all day and all night in the library were actually true. There is a LOT of reading. I once spent so much time in the library that I genuinely started to feel homesick. Be prepared to study long and hard hours as a law student.

3. Work hard, work smart, be organised

The workload becomes easier if you are well organised and focus on working efficiently. Planning ahead early and prioritising work over play avoids dreaded all-nighters. When reading, one should focus on the end goal: learning the law in order to apply it correctly in an exam. Shortcuts in reading may be made too: having an idea of a case's facts and legal principle mean that the case report may be read much more quickly with more focus on the key points. This is not something which is taught; rather I have had to learn this myself during my law degree.

4. Everyone will try to pawn free legal advice from you

If I had a pound for every time a friend has asked a legal question ... For some reason, people think that law students are overflowing fountains of legal knowledge to be tested at will. This is simply not the case. No, I do not know about the legal intricacies of internet libel law. No I can't help you get out of your mobile phone contract. No, I can't help you if you've killed a man! And even if you do give advice, be sure to add disclaimers.

5. Life revolves around your next tutorial or seminar

To start with, you will have lectures. Then you will be assigned reading to do, and answers to prepare for tutorials and seminars. I was unlucky enough to have tutors who would use tutorials as interrogation sessions to highlight your deficiencies in knowledge and understanding of the law. My motivation for those tutorials was avoiding the wrath of the tutor. In hindsight this method of teaching clearly worked. Smaller group teaching sessions are key opportunities to test your understanding and give structure to your learning. The more effort you put into them, the more you will learn.

6. Law school is intense

In your law school, you are always competing against your fellow students for the best grades. Some law schools mark using a bell curve, so that your grades directly depend on how the rest of the year performs. Some students become extremely defensive and do everything they can purely for personal gain at the expense of others. This is rare, but law school can be a bit like being on "The Apprentice" competing against others in a high pressure environment with backstabbing and drama!

7. Law books cost a fortune

I remember being shell-shocked at having spent over £140 on "essential textbooks" in my first year of university. To this day, the expense of law textbooks still hurts.

8. Did I really choose the right degree?

At some point during their degrees, when motivation levels are low, and the mountain of cases to read high, law students will question their choice. A law degree will stretch you to your limits and test your commitment. I know many students who have dropped out of law degrees unable to cope with the intensity. Don't make the decision over the choice of degree lightly. A law degree is a very expensive investment. In fact, some may be better off choosing a degree they enjoy at university in which they can gain better honours and then decide whether to commit to law and do the GDL.

9. The jump from A-Levels to law school

I thought I'd cope well with a law degree, having performed well at school. There's a good reason why the entry levels are so high at the top university law departments. During my law degree, I felt very stupid about 90% of the time during my readings, and would become disheartened by how much I didn't understand. Initially I was very upset at struggling to achieve only 60% (a 2:1) in my work, as opposed to over 90% at A-Level. This is relatively normal. The process of learning and understanding is different and takes some getting used to.

10. Social stereotypes of law students

Finally, a series of phrases you will have to get used to hearing. Get thinking of good responses.

"Oh, you're studying law? Maybe you can help me out someday if I get into trouble."

"Well, I see you've sold your soul to the devil for riches."

"How can you defend someone you know to be guilty? You lawyers are heartless and cold-blooded."