Is college the same as secondary school in UK?

Full-time education is compulsory until age 18 in the UK. After completing secondary school at age 16, British students go on to attend a Further Education (FE) college for two years, referred to Year 12 and Year 13 of their education journey.

What is college called in the UK?

In the UK, a university is an institution in which students can study for undergraduate and graduate degrees. Law protects the university title. This means that for an educational institution to call itself a university, it's necessary for them to meet certain requirements.

What is the UK equivalent of secondary school?

Secondary education is divided into Key Stage 3 for ages 11–13 and Key Stage 4 for ages 14–15. At the end of Year 11 (at age 15 or 16, depending on their birthday) students typically take General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams or other Level 1 or Level 2 qualifications.

What are secondary schools in UK called?

Secondary school is the next step up from primary school. Secondary schools are often called high schools or middle school in United States. In Britain, secondary schools may be public schools, grammar schools or comprehensive schools.

What is the UK version of college?

In the UK, higher education (what Americans call "college") is known as “university.” “College” actually has another meaning in the UK — it's where many students go for two years after completing compulsory schooling at 16 in order to prepare for exams to get into university.

The UK Education System - What You Need To Know

Do British people call high school college?

US “high school” = UK “school”. US High school graduation = UK does not traditionally exist. US “School” / College = UK University. In the UK some high schools (schools) have the name “College” in them.

What do the British call high school?

The closest equivalent is a 'secondary school', and indeed some English secondary schools have 'high school' in their name. But the school system in England does not quite line up with the system that most Americans would be familiar with. The schools are: Infant school: Ages 4–7.

Do British people say secondary school?

'Officially' it's called secondary school, in the UK. That said, many people in the UK will refer to it as 'high school'.

What does secondary mean in the UK?

secondary adjective (EDUCATION)

B1 [ before noun ] mainly UK. relating to the education of children approximately between the ages of 11 and 18 years old: secondary education. They receive state money to train secondary teachers.

Can my 14 year old go to college instead of school UK?

Details. Further education and sixth-form colleges are able to enrol students aged 14 to 16 on a full-time study programme and receive funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency ( ESFA ).

What is secondary school in UK compared to US?

High school in America is equivalent to Secondary school in England. The key difference is that the English “high school” starts at 6th grade opposed to 9th grade as it is in the United States. This forces students to develop a level of maturity much earlier in their educational career.

How many years is college in UK?

A full-time bachelor's degree normally takes three years to complete. Part-time options are also available at many universities so that you can work alongside your studies or learn at a more relaxed pace.

What is the difference between high school and secondary school in UK?

“High school” is the American name for secondary school, which normally refers to a school where children are aged between 14 and 18. However, some UK schools have “high school” in their names. In the UK, the term “college” normally describes a further education institution for children aged 16 to 18.

What is the difference between school and college in UK?

Schools provide primary and secondary education, preparing students with the basics for higher education. Colleges provide further education courses, skill-based practical studies, and vocational programmes.

Is US or UK education harder?

Curriculum: In the UK, students typically study fewer subjects in greater depth, with a greater emphasis on exams at the end of each academic year. In the US, students are often required to take a broader range of subjects, with more opportunities for elective courses and continuous assessment throughout the year.

What do they call college majors in England?

In the UK a qualification like this would most often be a degree with honours in “<major subject> with <minor subject>. So, for example, I have a BA (Hons) in social science with philosophy.

How many secondary schools are there in the UK?

In the United Kingdom, there were were 4,172 secondary schools in the 2022/23 academic year compared with 4,121 in the 2010/11 academic year. In the provided time period, the number of secondary schools in the UK has fluctuated between a low of 4,072 schools in 2011/12 and a high of 4,204 schools in 2021/22.

What is the second year of secondary school in the UK?

Second year was traditionally the year group for 12 and 13 year olds in English and Welsh secondary schools, until it was mostly replaced by the Year 8 title in September 1990, although in some areas second year was actually the first year of a pupil's secondary education (where the transfer age was 12 instead of 11), ...

What is a lower secondary education in the UK?

The Lower Secondary school is for students from 12 to 14 years old, covering the third stages of schooling (Key Stage 3) over Years 7 to 9.

What do British call public schools?

In Scotland, a public school has a different significance; there the term is typically synonymous with state school in England and Wales. Fee-charging schools are referred to as private or independent schools.

What is year 13 in UK compared to us?

In the US system, less emphasis is placed on examinations and students study general subjects until the end of high school, which is Grade 12, the UK equivalent of Year 13. In the United States, most children attend preschool part-time, but state-provided education does not start until Kindergarten (Year 1 in the UK).

Which is better American or British school?

The American curriculum places more emphasis on testing and assessment, with standardized tests like the SAT and ACT being a key factor in college admissions. The British curriculum places more emphasis on coursework and exams, with students taking a series of national exams called GCSEs and A-levels.

Is college free in UK?

In practice, higher education (HE) remains free at the point of entry in England for a high minority of students. The state pays for the poorest or low income to access a university, thus university attendance remains high. There are record levels of disadvantaged students accessing a university in England.

How old are you in college UK?

Most young people progress to a further-education college at 16, after GCSEs. However, you can also progress to a college at 17 or 18, after A Levels, BTECs or similar.