Independent Schools

About seven per cent of pupils in England attend independent schools. Independent schools belong to the private sector of education as they are not funded by the state and obtain most of their finances from fees paid by parents.

Private-sector education is based originally on boys’ schools founded by public-spirited men of substance in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They were called ‘public schools’ to distinguish them from small private schools run by individuals. Many others were added later, together with a whole range of girls’ schools, mainly around 1840. The term ‘public schools’ has now become obviously absurd and its meaning is uncertain.

Until about 1970 all the private-sector schools were for boys or girls only, However, since then some of the former boys’ schools have begun to take in girls as well, some only at sixth-form level, some at all ages, and more than half now take girls. Meanwhile, the girls’ schools continue without boys, but are losing many of their potential pupils.

The private sector has two parts which are more or less distinct, though the borderline is not clear. Some schools, mostly in towns, are wholly or mainly for day pupils. Most of these are for children aged 11 – 18, like the state secondary schools. Most of their pupils come to them aged eleven from state primary schools, on the basis of selective and competitive examinations, though some schools have their own primary sections attached to them, from which eleven-year-olds may move up if they are academically good enough. The independent day schools in big cities have much in common with the old principal lyceums and Gymnasiums or equivalent in Western Europe. Some of them, such as Manchester Grammar School (founded in 1515) and Bristol Grammar School (1532), and several of those in London, have great reputations for academic excellence.

The major boarding schools, or ‘public schools’ in the narrow sense, are peculiar to Britain, and especially to the southern half of England, where most of them are situated. About 100 are mainly residential (‘boarding’) schools, though many of these take day pupils too. These are mainly for children aged 13 – 18, and receive thirteen year olds on the basis of entrance examinations, partly from their own attached junior schools, partly from quite small private ‘ preparatory’ (‘prep’) schools for children aged 7 – 13, partly from state schools.

The School Curriculum

In 1988, for the first time in British history, a National Curriculum was introduced in schools to give all young people access to a broad and balanced education.

The National Curriculum defines four key stages, and ten statuary subjects.

- Key Stage 1 – Pupils aged 5 to 7 (Infant).

- Key Stage 2 – Pupils aged 7 to 11 (Junior).

- Key Stage 3 – Pupils aged 11 to 14 (Pre-GSCE).

- Key Stage 4 – Pupils aged 14 to 16 (Preparation for the General Certificate of Secondary Education – GCSE and equivalent vocational pathways).

Key stages 1 and 2 make the primary phase and key stages 3 and 4 constitute the secondary phase.

The three core subjects are English, mathematics and science. There are seven other foundation subjects: technology, history, geography, music, art, physical education (PE), modern foreign language.

Types of Qualifications

General educational qualifications are GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary education); GCE A level (General Certificate of Education Advanced level); and AS (Advanced Supplementary) examinations.

Normally taken at age 15 – 16, they can be taken in a wide range of subjects. Pupils are tested by assessment of work during the course and examinations at the end of the course. Passes are graded from A to G (‘A’ being the highest grade). GCE A levels are the main academic qualifications for entry to higher education and are normally taken by pupils at age 18 or over. They are tested mainly by examination at the end of the course.

GCE AS level examinations are at the same standard as GCE A levels, but each examination covers less content. They were introduced in 1987 to allow GCE A level students to take more subjects and to increase the breadth of their education. GCE A level and AS qualifications are currently the main standard for entrance to higher education and many forms of professional training.

General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ) are qualifications which combine general and vocational education. GNVQs provide a path into both education and employment. They are broadly based vocational qualifications that are designed to develop the skills and understanding needed in vocational areas such as business, engineering or health and social care.

Careers Education

One of the government’s key objectives is to help young people develop economically relevant skills.

Schools and colleges provide careers education and guidance in order to raise awareness of education training and careers opportunities and to help young people prepare for working life. Most schools employ a careers co-ordinator and many have a formal service agreement with a local Careers Service.

Education Business Partnerships are to bring about closer links between education and industry. Pupils normally undergo some work experience prior to finishing school education.

The Five Ages of Education

NURSERY - up to 5 years

PRIMARY – 4 – 12 years

SECONDARY – 11 – 18 years

HIGHER - 18 + years

FURTHER – 16 + years

British education has many different faces, but one goal. Its aim is to realise the potential of all, for the good of the individual and society as a whole.

The past few years have seen a lot of changes in Britain’s traditionally decentralised education system. The most significant in England and Wales were introduced under the Education Reform Act 1988. This led to the phasing-in of a compulsory National Curriculum for pupils aged 5 to 16 in state schools. The Act also aims to give parents a wider choice of schools for their children, and to grant schools, parents and the local community more responsibility in running school affairs.