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Secondary Education System

Secondary education in the UK normally starts for most students at the age of 11 years old. Though not common, in some parts of the UK there are middle schools which run up to 12 or 13 years old.

For international students coming into the UK for secondary education, it is common to either enter at the age of 11 or wait until the age of 13 and have one year in school before starting the two-year GCSE program which will run from 14 to 16 years old.

From the age of 11-14, students will study a broad range of subjects such as Music, Math, Science, English, etc. When reaching 14, students usually enter into their first year of a 2-year process known as your GCSE (or SCE for those who are in Scotland). GCSEs are a set of exams that test your knowledge.

Most schools follow the same method when it comes to GCSEs and you will take the following core subjects:

• Sciences (either combined or separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics)

Students typically then select an additional 4 or 5 subjects to take in the GCSEs, and they can be subjects like French, German, Business Studies, Design and Technology, Music, and many more.

At state schools students typically take 5 to 10 GCSEs, depending on the student's ability and drive. For independent schools, which are usually a lot more results driven, it is not uncommon for students to take as many as 11 or 12, focusing more on academic subjects compared to the arts.

GCSEs take a total of 2 years and mark the end of compulsory education for students in the UK. Once they have completed their GCSEs students have the choice to either move into further education (with a path to higher education) or can leave school and look for work.

Please note that Scotland has a separate education system and does not conform to the above structure. Please learn more about the Scottish Education System .

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British education system

an introduction to the British education system

The British Education System can be very different and potentially confusing for new overseas parents looking to enrol their child at school in the UK. The Bright World team hopes this guide can provide a clear step-by-step introduction to each stage of British education.

The education system in the UK is divided into four main parts; primary education, secondary education, further education and higher education.

The education system in the UK is also split into "key stages" which breaks down as follows:

• 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

UK primary education

Primary school education begins in the UK at age 5 and continues until age 11, comprising key stages one and two under the UK educational system.

Some primary schools are split up into Infant and Junior levels. These are usually separate schools on the same site. The infant age range (Key Stage 1) is from age 5 to 7. The Junior age range (Key Stage 2) is from age 7 to 11. The year groups at primary School level are:

Year R (Reception) (age 4 – 5) Year 1 (age 5 - 6) Year 2 (age 6 - 7) The year when SATs testing takes place for Key Stage 1 Year 3 (age 7 - 8) Year 4 (age 8 - 9) Year 5 (age 9 - 10) Year 6 (age 10 - 11) The year when SATs testing takes place for Key Stage 2

secondary school - years 7 and 8

Years 7 and 8 are the first two years of secondary school education in the UK. In some independent schools they are included in the Junior School, in others, they are part of the Senior School. 

Under the UK school system, all students study English, Maths, Sciences, a Humanities subject and a Modern Language. Besides these, each school has a list with optional subjects such as Art, Music, Drama, Latin, Sport Science, Design Technology, Computer Science, etc. and students may choose a few subjects that interest them. 

In some schools, students sit the Common Entrance Exam in year 7. There are 3 examination sessions, in November, January and May/June. The transition from Junior to Senior School (from year 8 to year 9) may be conditioned upon the Common Entrance Exam results in those schools.

secondary school - year 9

Year 9 is a very important year in the British school system, as many students make the transition from Junior School to Senior School. It is also a very good foundation for the GCSE programme and it is an entry point to all schools. 

secondary education - years 10 and 11

GCSE programme

In the last two years of secondary education, which are called Year 10 and Year 11, starting at age 14, students prepare for GCSE exams that are taken after two years (General Certificate of Secondary Education).

In the UK school system, during the GCSE programme, students study between 9 and 12 subjects. Some of them are compulsory (English, Maths, Sciences, Humanities, a Modern Language etc.), some are chosen by each student according to their abilities and preferences. At the end of the 2 year GCSE programme, following the examinations on each studied subject, students receive their GCSE Certificates.

The chosen subjects and the GCSE results are very important for their Further Studies (A-Level or IB) and for their University admission.

Intensive 1 year GCSE

Some schools offer a 1 Year GCSE programme in Year 11 for international students seeking a school education in the UK. These intensive, one year courses, are available for students aged 15 plus, with the appropriate academic level from their own country. Fewer subjects are studied (maximum 6).

The IGCSE programme ( International  General Certificate of Secondary Education) prepare international students for A-Level and/or IB.

Students study between 5 and 7 subjects, English, Maths and Science being included. Each school has a list of available subjects for IGCSE students. At the end of Year 11, students take exams in each studied subject and receive IGCSE Certificates.

university preparation - years 12 and 13

A level study

In the UK school system, once a student reaches the age of 16, they can start a 2 year programme which leads to A (Advanced) level examinations. Students specialise in 3 or 4 subjects, that are usually relevant to the degree subject they wish to follow at university. A levels are state examinations and are recognised by all UK universities and by institutions worldwide.

At the end of Year 13, following the examinations in each subject, the students receive A level Certificates.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Those who would like to study more than 3-4 subjects, may continue their studies in a broader number of subjects with the International Baccaularete Diploma Programme, offered by some independent schools.

During the IB, students study 6 subjects, 3 at higher level (HL) and 3 at standard level (SL). Each school offers different subjects at different study levels (HL/SL). The IB programme also includes a compulsory Core programme consisting of Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE) and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).

Students take written examinations on each subject at the end of their courses.

further education - vocational courses

International students can either choose a state sixth form college or a college of further education as an alternative to private education. Both offer GCSE and A level courses for students from the age of 16. Colleges of further education also offer foundation and diploma courses. All colleges can prepare students for entry to a  UK university or any university in the world. Bright World works with a number of state colleges in the UK which provide a multitude of vocational and academic courses. These courses can enable students to pursue their chosen career or to gain a place at a university of their choice.

The British school system also extends to BTEC courses which are designed for students who would like to develop practical knowledge and skills in a specific subject (Business, Psychology, Engineering, Sport, Art & Design) and find traditional exams challenging. Focussing on practical, skills-based learning, the BTEC students are assessed during the course. After each unit students are assessed through assignments, tasks or tests, and not at the end of the programme as it happens with GCSE or A-Level students.

university - foundation courses

From age 17, international students can opt to study one year foundation programmes, instead of A levels or IB. These courses lead to private examinations that are an alternative to A levels. Foundation courses at colleges are recognised by universities with whom they have partnerships.

Some universities also offer foundation courses that lead onto their own degree programmes.

Bright World has partnerships with a number of colleges and Pathway providers and can help place students into Foundation and Diploma courses in London and across the UK.

university - undergraduate study

In the UK, a British bachelors degree normally takes three years to complete and most are awarded at honours level. Examples of first degrees are: BA (Bachelor of Arts), BEng (Bachelor of Engineering), and BSc (Bachelor of Science).

State colleges offer some 2 year vocational diplomas that grant exemption from the first and sometimes second year of a degree programme. Some private tutorial colleges offer a one year diploma programme which is equivalent to year 1 of university. Students taking 1 year diplomas are awarded second year entry at some universities.

university - postgraduate study

Postgraduate courses in the UK education system are very intensive. This means that the courses are usually much shorter than in other countries. A master's degree typically takes 12 months to complete, for example an MA - Master of Arts and an MEng - Master of Engineering. An MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a high profile Masters course which can take 2 years. Applicants will usually be high achieving with at least 2 years managerial experience. A PhD research degree in the UK can take between 2 and 7 years.

boarding schools

Bright World works almost exclusively with privately funded schools and colleges. A boarding school is a residential school where pupils live and study during the school year. There are approximately 500 boarding schools across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

UK boarding schools offer pupils an outstanding education, helping them to develop their skills and progress to university. All UK boarding schools have to meet strict government standards on the quality of their teaching, facilities and student care.

Many UK boarding schools combine beautiful, centuries-old buildings with a mix of modern classrooms and traditional architecture. The excellent facilities help make living and learning a great experience and pupils will will improve their English skills while they study.

tutorial colleges

Tutorial Colleges start at age 15 and have a more flexible programme range, focussing on fast access to UK university.

Many of the independent private sixth form colleges in Oxford, Cambridge and London work on a 'tutorial system' and are often referred to as 'tutorial colleges'. The tutorial system originates from Oxford and Cambridge Universities and is a very highly regarded and much tested system. It it is still used today and is the cornerstone of an 'Oxbridge' education. A tutorial is a small class of only a few students, in which the tutor (a lecturer or other academic faculty member) gives individual attention to the students.

state boarding schools

A state boarding school is one where you pay for boarding and the education is free. The government pays for the education as it would at any other state school in England.

Admission to state boarding schools in the UK is limited to children who are nationals of the UK and are eligible to hold a full UK passport, or those who are nationals of other European Union countries or those who have the right of residence in the UK. Please note that the holding of a BN(O) passport does not make the child eligible for a state boarding school in the UK.

F E Colleges

An FE college is an institution that provides education for those above school age (age 16). There are many types of FE colleges including, sixth form colleges, specialist colleges and adult education institutes. FE Colleges are state run and as such those members of the EU joining can benefit from free education. There is also a competitive fee structure available for non-EU international students.

pathway courses at university

If you need to improve your English language or study skills before attending a UK university, pathway providers offer unique foundation courses which often lead to direct degree-level entry upon completion. There are several private companies who operate Foundation and Diploma programmes on the campuses of UK universities. Often these courses offer accelerated access to undergraduate degrees.

universities

The UK is one of the world's most popular destination for students from overseas. In fact, more than 400,000 international students enrol each year. International students considering an education in the UK have a choice of over 140 universities and higher education institutions, each offering a great range of tertiary qualifications that will be recognised the world over. Students join a 3 year undergraduate programme or a 1 year postgraduate course.

UK university placement

For expert advice on UK and US university entry, Bright World has teamed up with Education Advisers Ltd, whose experienced consultants offer a full range of Higher Education services for international students. These range from complimentary advice on the best University Foundation courses, to bespoke Oxbridge and Medical School coaching and mentorship programmes.

You can visit their websites at www.educationadvisers.co.uk or call +44 1622 813870 for further information.

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The UK Education System Explained

In General by Think Student Editor September 7, 2022 Leave a Comment

If you’ve been to any form of school, college or university in the UK, then you’ve been a part of its education system. While that may sound like a really complicated word, it is actually really simple. It is just referring to the different stages of education that students can go through from when they start as children to much higher stages. However, the education system in the UK can feel quite complicated. This is especially as the UK is made up of 4 countries that each have slight differences in their specific education systems.

Continue reading to learn more about what makes up the UK education system. Whether you’re a student within the UK education system or someone who is simply interested, this article will break it down for you.

Table of Contents

What are the stages of education in the UK?

The UK education system can be quite hard to understand as there is so many different qualifications and levels. There are 5 main stages of education in the UK that these qualifications and levels can be sorted into . These 5 stages are also key to properly understanding how the UK education system works.

These education stages are Early Years education, primary education, secondary education, further education and higher education. For more information about the UK education system as a whole, check out this governmental guide .

The table below aims to provide an overview of the various stages of education in the UK.

What is Early Years education in the UK?

If you are familiar with schooling in the UK, you may be thinking of Early Years education as another name for the first year of primary school. This first year of primary school may sometimes be called Early Years but it is also known as Reception, which it will be referred to as in this article.

Reception and Early Years education are not the same thing. Early Years education begins before primary school. This is because it covers the education of children between the ages of 3 and 5. For more information, check out this guide by the Cambridgeshire County Council.

The Early Years education stage refers to the childcare and nursery education of all young children in the UK . The idea is that children will mostly learn through the use of games and play.

The specific idea of what children are supposed to learn in their Early Years education varies based on the different countries in the UK. However, all of these are done with the idea of preparing children for school and the rest of their lives .

For more information about the frameworks each UK country uses, click on their links: England , Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland .

What is primary education in the UK?

In the UK, primary level education covers students from the ages of 4 to 11. This is within primary schools, which is split up into the year groups from Year 1 to Year 6 as well as Reception in England and Wales. In Northern Ireland, Reception is known as Year 1, so the year groups in primary school there are from Year 1 to Year 7.

In Scotland, these groups are named differently. Reception is instead known as P1, so primary schools in Scotland have the year groups P1 to P7, which is equivalent to Year 7 in England and Wales. For more information about primary schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland, click here and here respectively to find guides by The School Run.

In primary school, you won’t gain any official qualifications . Despite this, you may still need to do exams. At the end of primary level education in England students are expected to complete exams called SATs. While these are also done in Year 2, the ones done in Year 6 are more important as they are done before students go on to secondary school.

SATs or Standard Assessment Tests are a series of exams that students have to do . The ones done in Year 6 feature 2 maths papers, an English reading paper, a grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) paper and a spelling test. For more about SATs, check out this Think Student article .

What is secondary education in the UK?

In the UK, secondary education refers to the education of students between the ages of 11 and 16 . This takes place within secondary schools, which are sometimes also known as high schools. Secondary schools are split up into year groups. These are from Year 7 to Year 11 in England and Wales. In Northern Ireland, the year groups are from Year 8 to Year 12.

In Scotland, there are only 4 year groups, these are S1 to S4. S1 in Scotland is equivalent to Year 8 in England and Wales, or Year 9 in Northern Ireland as primary school is longer . For more information, check out this guide by The School Run.

Unlike primary school, students can leave secondary school with qualifications. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, these qualifications are GCSEs . These are taken in the last year of secondary school, which is Year 11 or Year 12 in Northern Ireland.

While secondary school is essentially leading up to these exams, the whole way through, students will generally not start the GCSE content until they’re in Year 9 or Year 10. For more information about when you do your GCSEs, check out this Think Student article .

In Scotland, GCSEs aren’t taken at all. Instead, there are National qualifications. Normally in S4, which is the equivalent to Year 11 or Year 12 in Northern Ireland, students will get their National qualifications . These can be from National 1 to National 5, depending on what level the student is at in each subject.

At this stage, typically, students will do National 5 . For this, students will have to complete formal exams that are roughly the equivalent of GCSEs. For more information about this, check out this article by Good Schools Guide. For an overview of National qualifications as a whole, check out this guide from SQA.

What education level is GCSE?

As mentioned above, GCSE level education is a part of the secondary education stage . In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it marks the end of secondary education with students typically taking these exams at the end of Year 11, which is also known as Year 12 in Northern Ireland. This is also made clear as the term GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education.

For more information about the term GCSE, check out this Think Student article . For more information about the education level of GCSEs, check out this Think Student article .

What is further education in the UK?

In the UK, further education is simply when you continue to be in education after turning 16, without doing higher education , which will be explained in the section below.

In England, it is compulsory for you to be in further education until you are 18. This doesn’t apply to the rest of the UK. For more about this, check out this governmental guide on school leaving age.

There are several different types of further education qualifications that you can do, making further education a lot more flexible than the earlier stages of education . For example, you could stay in school or go to college and continue studying.

You may want to study traditional courses such as A-Levels, Highers or Advanced Highers. Alternatively, you may want to study other level 3 courses that may be more vocational, such as BTECs or T-Levels.

You could also leave school and still do other types of further education such as an apprenticeship or traineeship . These options are a lot more practical as you are learning by working.

To learn more about the level 3 courses mentioned here, click on their following links: A-Levels , Highers , BTECs , T-Levels , apprenticeships . To learn more about level 3 courses, check out its respective section below. For more information about further education, check out this article by Think Student.

What education level is sixth form or college?

Both sixth form and college are actually education providers, rather than levels of education themselves. Typically, these education providers will offer qualification that are within the further education stage. These may include A-Levels and BTECs.

For more information about what you do in sixth form college, check out this Think Student article .

While this is always the case for sixth forms, this isn’t particularly the case for colleges as some colleges offer higher education courses. Especially qualifications such as higher national certificates (HNCs) or higher national diplomas (HNDs). For more information about this, check out this governmental guide .

What is higher education in the UK?

In the UK, higher education is any type of education that is done after or beyond further education . Generally, students will be at least 18 when they reach this stage. There are many types of higher education and a range of levels.

As the name suggests, these levels of education are the highest that can be reached in terms of academia and so are much more specialised.

The lowest type of higher education is a level 4 qualification . At level 4, students may do a higher national certificate (HNC), a Higher Apprenticeship or another equivalent qualification.

While a level 8 qualification is the highest level . At this level, students may study a PhD or an alternative type of doctorate degree.

If you would like to find out more about HNCs, check out this guide by WhatUni. To learn more about the types of apprenticeship, check out this Think Student article .

For more on PhDs and other doctorate degrees, please refer to this useful Think Student article . If you would simply like to learn more about higher education as a whole, check out this Think Student article .

What education level is university?

Similarly, to sixth forms and colleges, university is an education provider rather than an actual level of education itself. Qualifications offered by universities are typically higher education .

Although, some courses they offer may be another type of qualification altogether. These may not even be counted within the education stages or qualification levels . This is especially language courses or courses they offer online.

For example, language courses that are not part of a degree will normally be based on the CEFR levels. These levels don’t line up directly with any education stage or qualification level of the UK.

Instead, these are 6 levels that describe levels of language learning from beginner to proficient. For more information about this, check out this guide by the British Council.

While universities offer higher education qualifications, this isn’t particularly all of them. While a university may offer many qualifications from a foundation degree to a PhD, they are less likely to offer vocational courses .

For example, a national vocational qualification (NVQ) even at level 4 or above will typically be taught at a school, college or in the workplace. For more information about this, check out this article by Indeed.

For more information about vocational courses, check out this Think Student article . For more information about the education level of universities, look at this Think Student article .

What are the levels of education in the UK?

In the UK, the actual education system can be broken down into the 5 main stages that were explained above. However, there are also many other ways that education can be sorted and assigned different rankings and can be compared to one another .

One way to do this for the education of children in both primary school and secondary school is through the use of key stages . For more about key stages, check out this Think Student article .

Specific qualifications can also be further broken down into levels. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, these levels are from entry level to level 8. In Scotland with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), these levels are from level 1 to level 12.

For more information about the qualification levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, check out this governmental guide . For more information about the SCQF levels, check out this guide by Glasgow Kelvin College. You can also look at these qualifications in comparison by looking at this guide by the SQA.

The table below attempts to simplify the education system and provide a rough overview. It’s important to note that many qualifications are missing from this table.

What is an entry level qualification in the UK?

In the UK, an entry level qualification is the first level of qualification that you can get . It is split into 3 sub levels: entry level 1, entry level 2 and entry level 3. Entry level 3 is the highest of the entry level qualifications. In the Scottish SCQF levels, entry level in England, Wales and Northern Ireland covers levels 1 to 3 as it lines up with the entry level sub levels .

The idea of entry level qualifications is so that you can have a qualification that is recognised in the UK even if you’re not ready or prepared to study a higher-level qualification. For more information about these, check out this governmental guide .

What is a level 1 qualification in the UK?

A level 1 qualification is the next level up in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The equivalent of this in the SCQF levels is a level 4 qualification .

As it is a higher level, there is a bit more of a range of qualifications at level 1 . For example, GCSE grades 1, 2 and 3 or between D and G are level 1, although they’re not a pass at GCSE. In Scotland, National 4 qualifications are also level 4 in the SCQF levels.

Music gradings from 1 to 3 are also ranked at level 1. This is the same with a vast range of different essential skills, functional skills, national vocational qualifications (NVQs)/ Scottish vocational qualification (SVQs), BTEC and other vocational qualifications that are offered at level 1.

For more information about the levels of BTEC qualifications, check out this Think Student article . For more examples about what is included in this level, please refer to the links above.

What is a level 2 qualification in the UK?

The next level up is a level 2 qualification. This is equivalent to a level 5 qualification in Scotland . As level 2 or level 5 qualifications are slightly more credible. This is because in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, level 2 is the level of GCSEs . In Scotland, this is the same level as National 5 qualifications.

Other qualifications at level 2 are Intermediate Apprenticeships or Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland, a range of BTECs, CTECs, NVQs and other vocational qualifications. It also includes music gradings 4 and 5.

For more information about CTEC qualifications, check out this Think Student article . For more examples of level 2 qualifications, please refer to the links above.

What is a level 3 qualification in the UK?

A level 3 qualification is once again a higher level that can help to open more opportunities, particularly with your career but also if you want to further your education. In Scotland, this is roughly equivalent to levels 6 on the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF) levels .

Level 3 or level 6 includes a range of qualifications, including AS and A-Levels, Highers, Advanced Apprenticeships or Foundation Apprenticeships in Scotland and T-Levels.

As well as a wide range of vocational courses, including BTECs, NVQs and SVQs. Level 3 or level 6 also include the International Baccalaureate (IB) and music grading level 6, 7 and 8.

Once again, please refer to the links above to find more examples. Also, check out this Think Student article to learn more about Advanced Apprenticeships and the other levels of apprenticeship.

What is a level 4 qualification in the UK?

A level 4 qualification marks the beginning of the higher education stage. It is roughly the equivalent to a level 7 qualification in Scotland .

This level includes qualifications such as HNCs, Higher Apprenticeships, certificates of higher education (CertHE), Advanced Highers and the Scottish Baccalaureate. It is also the equivalent to the first year at university. Also, a level 4 or 7 qualification includes a wide range of vocational qualifications, including NVQs and SVQs.

What is a level 5 qualification in the UK?

A level 5 qualification is also a part of higher education, and it is equivalent to the second year of university. In Scotland, a level 5 qualification is instead roughly a level 8 qualification.

This level includes qualifications such as HNDs, foundation degrees, diplomas of higher education (DipHE), Higher Apprenticeships both referring to Scotland and the rest of the UK and Technical Apprenticeships. Once again, there are a wide range of vocational qualifications offered at level 5 or 8.

What is a level 6 qualification in the UK? A level 6 qualification is also a part of higher education. In comparison to the Scottish SCQF levels, it is slightly different to the other levels. This is because it is equivalent to both level 9 qualifications and level 10 qualifications.

Level 6, 9 or 10 includes many qualifications, such as a Graduate Apprenticeship, a Degree Apprenticeship, a graduate certificate or a graduate diploma. It also includes many vocational qualifications, such as NVQs or SVQs.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, an undergraduate degree, whether this is with or without honours is at level 6 . However, in Scotland, an ordinary degree (without honours) is a level 9 qualification and a degree with honours is a level 10 qualification.

If you would like to learn more about undergraduate degrees, check out this Think Student article . For more on Degree Apprenticeships, check out this Think Student article .

What is a level 7 qualification in the UK?

A level 7 qualification is an even further form of higher education. It is the equivalent to the Scottish level 11 .

This is the second highest level that you can get in the UK . This level includes qualifications such as master’s degrees, integrated master’s degrees, postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas.

It also includes a variety of certificates, awards and diplomas that are ranked at level 7. As well as NVQs or SVQs.

If you would like to learn more about master’s degrees, check out this Think Student article .

What is a level 8 qualification in the UK?

A level 8 qualification is the highest level of qualification that you can achieve in the UK. It is equivalent to the Scottish Credit and Qualification (SCQF) level 12, which is also the highest of these levels .

A level 8 or level 12 qualification includes doctorate degrees, including PhDs as well as a Professional Apprenticeship. It also includes certificates, awards and diplomas that are ranked at level 8.

To learn more about PhDs, check out this Think Student article . Please remember to look at the links above to learn about more examples.

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GCSEs, AS and A levels: a guide for students in England (HTML)

Updated 16 December 2020

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2020

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcses-as-and-a-levels-a-guide-for-students-in-england/asdf

Who’s who in the exam system

Ofqual is the qualifications regulator in England. We decide which organisations can offer GCSEs, AS and A levels and set rules that exam boards must follow.

The Department for Education

The Department for Education sets:

• the subject content that GCSEs, AS and A levels must cover
• policy for what maintained schools are expected to teach
• measures to judge schools’ performance

The exam boards

Exam boards develop, mark and award GCSEs, AS and A level qualifications. There are currently four exam boards: AQA , OCR , Pearson and WJEC Eduqas .

JCQ is the exam boards’ membership organisation. Exam boards use JCQ to set common policies and procedures that schools and colleges must follow when delivering GCSEs, AS and A levels.

Schools and colleges

Schools and colleges are responsible for teaching and learning, and preparing you to take the qualifications. They make sure all the right arrangements are in place, give you your results and provide support, if needed, once you have received your results.

Who should I speak to: before & during exams

Before exams.

Your school or college will decide:

• the range of subjects you can choose from and which qualifications they will enter you for whether they will enter you for foundation or higher tier for GCSEs that are tiered (maths, science, statistics and Modern Foreign Languages)
• whether, because you have a disability including a learning disability, they should apply for reasonable adjustments on your behalf
• if, because you are injured or taken ill shortly before the exam, you should be given some extra support in the way you take your assessment, such as a scribe who will write your answer down for you
• whether you might qualify for a small number of extra marks, for example because of illness or injury affecting you or someone very close to you

Reasonable adjustments are changes made to an assessment or to the way an assessment is carried out that reduce or remove a disadvantage caused by a student’s disability. Some of the most common adjustments are:

• changes to assessment materials, for example, large print or braille exam papers
• assistance with specific tasks, for example, another person might read questions to you or write your dictated answers
• extra time to complete assessments

Your school or college can also request that the exam board take account of something that could affect how you’d be expected to perform in an assessment . The exam board will decide whether an adjustment should be made to the way your exams are taken or if you should be given a small number of extra marks.

During exams

Your school or college will make sure that:

• exam papers are stored securely
• any reasonable adjustments or other changes allowed to the way you take your exams are in place
• exams are administered properly

If you think that an exam has not been conducted properly or you think that some students have had an unfair advantage , you should raise this with your exams officer, a teacher or a family member. If you would rather not talk to your school or college, you can contact the relevant exam board or Ofqual.

Exams boards are responsible for the qualifications that you take, including developing and delivering the exam papers.

If you are concerned that there was an error in an exam paper or that you didn’t have fair access to it, you should contact your school or college.

Exam boards must test all the content set out in their specifications over a number of years and must not ask questions on anything not included in the specifications. If you have concerns you should speak to your teacher.

Who should I speak to: marking & moderation

Exam boards mark students’ exam scripts . Around 63,000 examiners, mostly experienced teachers, do most of their marking on-screen. This means different answers on your exam paper may be given to different examiners to mark, unlike paper-based marking. Examiners’ work is quality checked by the exam boards to ensure their marking is consistent and to the required standard.

In a normal exam series, your teacher may mark some of your work (non-exam assessment) for subjects such as GCSE art & design and drama, or AS and A level design & technology. In Autumn 2020 most subjects will be judged on exam performance alone. For GCSE, AS and A level art & design qualifications, your artwork and designs will be marked by the exam board. Normal arrangements for reviews of moderation do not apply for the autumn 2020 exams.

Who should I speak to: results and post-results

Autumn 2020 was an exceptional exam series put in place for students who were unable to receive a grade in 2020 or who wanted the opportunity to try and improve upon their summer 2020 grade. It was only open to those students who were entered for exams in summer 2020. The generosity of grading standard in summer 2020 will be carried forward and applied when awarding grades for the autumn 2020 exams.

Your school or college:

• receives your results and will pass these onto you. If you believe that there has been an error in the marking of your work, you should discuss this with your school or college
• can apply for a review of marking on your behalf

The exam board will carry out a review of marking if a request is made by your school or college by the deadline – the table below shows the autumn/winter 2020 deadlines.

If you are a private candidate (someone who does not study for their qualification at a school or college but takes the exam or assessment at an exam board approved school or college) you can contact the exam board directly to ask for a review.

On review, if no marking errors are found then your marks will not change. If a marking error is found then your mark may go up or down. If your mark does change, the review could mean that your grade stays the same or goes up or down. An exam board cannot provide extra marks because you are close to a grade boundary or because you did not get the grade your school or college predicted.

If you and your school or college still have concerns after the review of marking, exam boards must offer an appeals process. This gives your school or college the opportunity to challenge the review decisions. They can also challenge exam boards’ decisions decisions about reasonable adjustments, extra support or malpractice.

Who should I speak to: complaints

If you have a question about any of the qualifications you are taking then speaking to your teacher or exams officer is usually the best place to start.

Ofqual’s role during and after exams is to maintain standards of the qualifications over time and across exam boards.

You might come to Ofqual if you want to complain that an exam board hasn’t followed our rules or its own published policies and procedures for its qualifications. We would usually expect you to have complained to the exam board before coming to us, to give the exam board an opportunity to resolve your complaint.

Making a complaint to Ofqual is not the route to follow if you want to request a review of marking. If you think there has been a marking error, you must use the exam board’s review process instead.

If you and your school or college are unhappy with the result of an appeal following a review of marking, the school or college can ask Ofqual to review the case. This is called the exam procedure review service (EPRS). We look at whether the exam board has followed our rules and its own procedures, and, if not, whether your result is inappropriate.

Further information and links

There is lots more information on our website that you might find helpful:

• Ofqual guide for schools and colleges : regulating GCSEs, AS and A levels.
• Ask Ofqual - common questions answered : videos giving guidance on common questions we receive
• Ofqual postcards : summary information about GCSE, AS and A level reforms
• Ofqual blog : we publish regular blog posts, sign up to receive updates
• Contact Ofqual : if you need further information or want to make a complaint

You can access the online version of this guide at www.gov.uk/ofqual

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• Education and training statistics for the UK

Introduction

This release compiles information on education systems across the United Kingdom. Education is devolved in the UK, so each part of the United Kingdom has a separate education system.

In this release, there are sections focusing on the school system: numbers of schools, pupils and teachers, and pupil to teacher ratios , covering the 2022/23 academic year .

This is followed by sections on further and higher education, which includes the number of providers and the number of students for the 2021/22 academic year. There is also a section on young adults (aged between 16-24) who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The next sections focus on students' qualifications taken in the 2021/22 academic year (although given the different qualifications systems, headline measures and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not suitable to present a direct comparative picture of pupil performance across the UK), as well as the highest qualifications held by adults (aged 19-64) in the UK as of quarter 4 2022.

Finally, there is a section showing government education expenditure in the UK to the 2022-23 financial year .

Quick links

Related information, data guidance.

• Pre-release access list

Releases in this series

• Reporting year 2022
• Reporting year 2021
• Reporting year 2020
• Reporting Year 2019
• Reporting Year 2018
• Reporting Year 2017
• Reporting Year 2016
• Reporting Year 2015
• Reporting Year 2014
• Reporting Year 2013
• Reporting Year 2012
• Reporting Year 2011

Methodologies

Headline facts and figures - 2023, percentage of 16–24-year-olds neets.

In April to June 2023 up 0.3 percentage points on the previous quarter.

Not in education, employment or training

Percentage of 19-64-year-olds with NQF level 4 or above

67.0% NQF level 3+ and 83.1% level 2+, Q4 2022

The National Qualifications Framework. Most qualifications have a difficulty level. The higher the level, the more difficult the qualification is.

• Pupil numbers in maintained schools increased in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland between 2021/22 and 2022/23 but decreased in Wales over the same period. Teacher numbers rose in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but decreased in Scotland over the same period.
• Pupil to teacher ratios in 2022/23 remained similar to the previous year suggesting the change in the number of students has been partially offset by the change in the number of teachers.
• Pupil to teacher ratios in maintained schools were lowest in Scotland ( 13.2 ) and similar in Northern Ireland ( 17.4 ), England ( 18.0 ) and Wales ( 18.4 ).
• Further education student numbers increased between 2020/21 and 2021/22. This increase follows several years of decreasing further education student numbers.
• The proportion of young people that are not in education, employment or training (NEET) in April to June 2023 has increased compared with the previous quarter (January to March 2023) and with pre-COVID-19 levels. The increase is entirely driven by young males, with the female NEET rate remaining stable.

Explore data and files used in this release

View or create your own tables.

View tables that we have built for you, or create your own tables from open data using our table tool

Data catalogue

Browse and download open data files from this release in our data catalogue

Learn more about the data files used in this release using our online guidance

Download all data (ZIP)

Download all data available in this release as a compressed ZIP file

School numbers

In 2022/23 there were 29,616 maintained schools across the UK, a decrease of 66 schools compared to 2021/22. This is predominantly driven by a decrease early learning and childcare providers in Scotland and in secondary schools in England.

Data on the number of schools in each part of the UK (and each region in England) is available in the underlying data.

Pupil numbers

The number of pupils in maintained schools continued to rise in the UK, with over 10 million pupils in 2022/23, an increase of 65,653 pupils (0.7%) from the previous year. The number of pupils in maintained schools in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland increased by 0.8%, 0.3% and 0.5% respectively. In Wales there was a 0.3% decrease in the number of pupils, an estimated 1,300 pupils.

The number of pupils in state-funded nurseries, secondary schools and special schools increased by 0.2%, 1.6% and 5.4% respectively across the UK between 2021/22 to 2022/23. However the number of pupils in primary schools fell by 0.3% overall.

Data on the number of pupils by sex and school type in each part of the UK (and each region of England) is available in the underlying data along with data by age and school type at a UK level.

Teacher numbers

The overall number of full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers working in maintained schools continued to increase. In 2022/23 there were 567,309 FTE teachers in total across the UK, an increase of almost 3,500 (0.6%) compared with 2021/22.

The FTE increase across the UK was seen across all phases expect in primary and nursery schools. The largest FTE increase across the UK was seen in secondary schools with 2,916 followed by special schools with 1,323 FTE teachers whereas primary and nursery schools saw a decrease of 1,303 FTE.

The FTE increases were seen in each part of the UK except in Scotland which saw a decrease of just under 100 FTE (0.2%) compared to the previous year. Northern Ireland saw the highest percentage increase of FTE teachers of 2.6% (497 FTE), with Wales at 0.9% (228 FTE) and England at 0.6% (2,845 FTE).

Teachers characteristics - Sex

The teaching workforce across the UK is consistently predominantly female: 74% in 2022/23, the same as in 2021/22. The greatest proportion of female teachers is at nursery level and the share decreases for each successive level of education: across the UK 85% of FTE at primary level are female and 64% at secondary level.

Data on the number of teachers by sex and school type in each part of the UK (and each region of England) is available in the underlying data.

Pupil to teacher ratios (PTRs)

Pupil to teacher ratios (PTRs) show the number of pupils for every teacher. Across the UK, the PTRs follow a similar pattern across all levels of education, with Scotland having the lowest PTRs and England, Wales and Northern Ireland all having very similar PTRs.

In Wales, the decrease in the number of pupils but increase in the number of teachers in 2022/23 across maintained schools has meant that there were fewer pupils per teacher so a decrease in the PTR from the previous year. 

In Northern Ireland, the increase in the number of pupils and larger increase in the number of teachers has meant a decrease in the PTR from the previous year.

In Scotland, the small increase in the number of pupils and small decrease in the number of teachers meant the PTR stayed the same to the previous year.

Whilst the number of pupils increased in England, PTRs remained very similar to the previous year suggesting the increase in the number of pupils has been partially offset by the increase in the number of teachers.

Further and Higher education

2019/20 and 2020/21 data covers the months of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). This may have affected enrolment figures and therefore extra care should be taken in comparing and interpreting trends over time.

Further education students

The total number of students in further education (FE) in the UK increased in 2021/22, rising in every part of the UK and by 4.8% overall compared to 2020/21 (136,770 students). However, the increase seen in 2021/22 follows years of decline. Since 2015/16 the total number of FE students across the UK has decreased by nearly 20%. Decreases over this period are seen in each part of the UK except in Scotland where the number of FE students has increased by 21% since 2015/16.

In 2021/22, females accounted for 56% of FE students across the UK. Whilst there were more female FE students than male FE students, males were more likely to participate in FE at a younger age than females were. In 2021/22, 71% of males participating in FE were less than 30 years old. For females this figure was 52%. In addition, there were twice as many females in FE aged 30 and over than there were males.

Higher education students

In 2021/22, there were 2.97 million students in higher education (HE) in UK further education colleges or higher education providers. Nearly two thirds of HE students were studying first degrees (also known as bachelor's degrees), 24% were studying a masters or other postgraduate courses, 4% were undertaking a PhD and 8% were on other undergraduate courses.

More females than males made up the overall student population (57%) and females made up a greater share at every level.

The most popular subject was Business and Management with 18% of all students enrolled (over half a million students), followed by Subjects allied to Medicine (12%) and Social Sciences (10%). Business and Management had the second most equal split between male and female students after Biological and Sport Sciences.

The six subjects with the highest enrolment are presented in the chart below by sex. The numbers of students studying subjects other than those in the top six by enrolment are not presented in the chart below, but the figures are available in the table and in the underlying data as well as by level of study.

The majority of students studied full-time but proportionally more females than males studied part-time (23% vs. 19% respectively across all course levels). This trend is predominantly driven by differences at postgraduate level, where 38% of females (178,825 students) studied postgraduate level courses part-time compared to 30% of males on postgraduate courses (103,065 students). The difference was much smaller at undergraduate level, with 17% of females (207,410 students) studying undergraduate courses part-time compared to 15% of males (139,305 students).

In 2021/22, 23% of all HE students were from overseas (681,600 students). The number of overseas students as a proportion of total students was greater for postgraduate courses (45% of postgraduate students) than for undergraduate courses (14% of undergraduate students). Slightly more overseas students were female than male (51% share or 18,610 females more) and at postgraduate level there were more male overseas students than UK male students (17,160 more overseas male students to male UK students at postgraduate level).

Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)

The percentage of 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) in April to June 2023, in the UK, was estimated at 11.6%. 

This is up 0.3 percentage points on the previous quarter and up 0.5 percentage points compared with pre-COVID-19 levels (October to December 2019). The increase is entirely driven by young males whose NEET rate in April to June 2023 was estimated at 12.2%. This is up 1.1 percentage points, both on the previous quarter and compared with pre-COVID-19 levels. In contrast, the NEET rate amongst females remained stable at 11.0%.

Of the estimated 794,000 16–24-year-olds who were NEET, 427,000 (54%) were male and 367,000 (46%) were female. 

The percentage of 16–17-year-olds who were NEET in April to June 2023 was estimated at 3.6% and the percentage of 18–24-year-olds who were NEET in April to June 2023 was estimated at 13.8%, both up 0.3 percentage points on the previous quarter.

Qualification headline measures

Qualifications headline measures for the 2021/22 academic year or summer 2022 exam season.

Given the different qualifications systems and headline measures, it is not suitable to present a direct comparison of pupil performance across the UK. 

The summer exam series took place in all parts of the UK in 2022. This was the first time summer exams took place since 2019 after two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the UK, to recognise the disruptions faced by students during the pandemic, changes were made to the 2022 summer exams. As a result the headlines measures across the UK have either been significantly affected or not calculated and published for 2021/22. The data that has been published should not be directly compared to attainment data from previous years for the purposes of measuring change in student performance.

• In England, examinations took place with adaptations to recognise the disruption faced by students taking exams in 2022. The adaptations for GCSEs, AS and A levels included the provision of advance information, optional content and support materials in some GCSEs, and changes to coursework requirements in some subjects. The grading approach reflected a midpoint between summer 2019 and 2021. Appropriate adaptations were in place for vocational and technical qualifications, with grades based on outcomes from a range of assessments.
• In Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) put course assessment modifications in place and took a more generous approach to grading. In addition, due to further disruption during the academic year, revision support was provided in the run up to exams that complemented the existing course modifications. Further, the appeals approach in 2022 provided learners with direct access to an appeal where their awarded grade was less than their teacher submitted estimate, and took into account alternative evidence. Following review of that evidence, where SQA assessed that a higher grade had been achieved, then the higher grade was awarded.
• In Wales, a series of adaptations were made to exams, and advance information was provided for some subjects to allow learners to focus their learning and revision. The approach to grading ensured that results broadly reflected a midway point between 2021 and 2019 outcomes.
• In Northern Ireland there was a managed return to public examinations in 2021/22 academic year. There were some adaptations to qualifications awarded by the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), which provides the majority of GCSE, AS and A levels delivered in Northern Ireland schools. These adaptations included the option to omit one unit of assessment from each specification, and was designed to reduce the burden of assessment on students to take account of the disruption they experienced due to COVID.

More detail on how each part of the UK awarded and presented its performance measures can be found at the relevant sources for each part of the UK and each level of education:

Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2021/22 – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK (explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk)

A level and other 16 to 18 results, Academic year 2021/22 – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK (explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk)

Schools in Scotland 2022: summary statistics - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) (opens in a new tab)

Examination results: September 2021 to August 2022 | GOV.WALES (opens in a new tab)

Year 12 and Year 14 Examination Performance at Post-Primary Schools in Northern Ireland 2021-22 | Department of Education (education-ni.gov.uk) (opens in a new tab)

Highest qualification for adults aged 19-64

Across the UK, an estimated 83.1% of adults aged 19-64 have a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 2 (e.g. GCSE grade 9-4/A*-C, National 5 grade A-C) or above. This decreases to an estimated 67.0% with NQF level 3 (e.g. A Levels, T Levels, Highers) or above and an estimated 48.4% at level 4 (e.g. higher apprenticeship) or above (e.g. higher national diploma, degree apprenticeship, bachelor's, master's, doctorate).

A higher percentage of females than males are qualified to each of these levels.

A higher percentage of 25–29-year-olds are qualified to each of these levels than any other age group, The proportion of adults with these qualifications then decreases as age increases.

Education expenditure

Education expenditure in the united kingdom for the 2022-23 financial year.

Total UK government expenditure on education across the UK increased by 5.1% from financial year 2021-22 to financial year 2022-23. Primary and secondary education saw an increase in spend of 2.2% and 7.1% respectively, while tertiary education saw a 3.6% decrease in spend.

Expenditure on education in real terms decreased by 1.3% from financial year 2021-22 to financial year 2022-23. Expenditure on education as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) decreased by 0.1 percentage points.

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Accreditation signifies their compliance with the authority's Code of Practice for Statistics which broadly means these statistics are:

• managed impartially and objectively in the public interest
• meet identified user needs
• produced according to sound methods
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Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).

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You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing [email protected] or via the OSR website .

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