The
Education system in United Kingdom is
different as well as diversified. Countriesof the United Kingdom have separate
systems under separate governments as it is a devolved matter. Devolution is a
form of decentralization wherein the powers are granted from the central
government of a sovereign state to government at a sub national level such as
regional, local or state level. The Education system in U.K has been separated
in such a manner that the UK Government is responsible for England, the
Scottish Government for Scotland, the Welsh Government for Wales and the
Northern Ireland Executive are responsible for Northern Ireland. So, according
to the classification UK Education can be classified into Education in Wales, Education
in England, Education in Scotland and Education in Northern Ireland.
Similarities in the Education System within UK
In spite of the devolved status there are similarities in
the education system of the constituent countries. The Education structure can
be divided into 5 stages namely Early years, primary, Secondary, Further
Education and Higher Education. Education is compulsory between the ages of
4-16 which means kindergarten, primary and secondary stage education needs to
be completed by everyone. Further Education as well as
Higher education remains
an area of choice. In England and Wales National Curriculum established in 1988
is followed whereas Scotland follows the 5-14 programme and Northern Ireland
has something called as Common Curriculum which becomes the base for setting
the syllabus.
Education in Wales
Education in Wales differs in certain respects from
education elsewhere in UK. Many schools in Wales educate either wholly or
largely through the medium of Welsh. Welsh language holds an important place in
Wales Education system. Lessons in the language itself are compulsory for until
the age 16.The concept of the community based comprehensive school still holds
its existence in Wales and Scotland. Comprehensive school is basically a state
school that doesn’t select its intake on the basis of academic performance.
Further education includes full- and part-time learning for
people over compulsory school age, excluding higher education. Further
education and publicly funded training in Wales is provided by 24 Further
education institutions and a range of public, private and voluntary sector
training providers, such as the Workers' Educational Association.
Education in England
Education in England is taken care by the Department for
Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Local
authorities are accountable for implementing policy for public education and
state schools at a local level. The leaving age for compulsory education was
raised to 18 by the Education and Skills Act 2008. The change takes effect in
2013 for 16-year-olds and 2015 for 17-year-olds. England also has a tradition
of independent schooling, but parents may choose to educate their children by
any suitable means.93% of children between the age of 3-18 study in state
funded schools. Students only have to pay for swimming, theatre visits and
field trips in case the student is interested in such activities. Independent
schools are preferred by a small % of people.
Students normally enter university from age 18 onwards, and
study for an academic degree. The state does not control university syllabuses,
but it does influence admission procedures through the Office for Fair Access
which approves and monitors access agreements to safeguard and promote fair
access to higher education. Students who have completed a first degree are
eligible to undertake a postgraduate degree, which might be a Master's degree
or Doctorate afterwards.
Education in Scotland
Scotland has a long history of universal provision of public
education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from those
in the other countries of the United Kingdom. The Scotland Act 1998 gives the
Scottish Parliament legislative control over all education matters, and the
Education (Scotland) Act 1980 is the principal legislation governing education
in Scotland. Scottish universities generally have courses a year longer
(typically 4 years) than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK, though it is
often possible for students to take more advanced specialized exams and join
the courses at the second year.
Qualifications at the secondary school and further education
level are provided by the Scottish Qualifications Authority which is the
national awarding body in Scotland.
Education in Northern
Ireland
The Northern Ireland Executive's Department of Education is
responsible for the country's education policy for primary and secondary
education. For the higher and further education the Department for Employment
and remains accountable.
The Department of Education's main areas of responsibility
is to cover pre-school, primary, post-primary and special education; the youth
service; the promotion of community relations within and between schools; and
teacher education and salaries. Its primary function is to promote the and
effective implementation of education policy. Although integrated education is
expanding, Northern Ireland has a highly-segregated education system, with 95%
of pupils attending either a Catholic school or a controlled school. Controlled
schools are open to children of all faiths. Controlled schools (nursery,
primary, special, secondary modern and grammar schools) are under the
management of the school's board of governors and the employing authorities are
the five education and library boards.Qualifications at the further and higher
level are not compulsory but a matter of choice.
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