The UK school system is centralized around the national curriculum, assessments, and standards while giving schools autonomy in how they deliver education. It is comprised of state schools (91% of students), independent schools (7%), and special schools (2%). Education is broken into phases from pre-school to further education, and the national curriculum outlines the subjects taught at each key stage. The government prioritizes inclusion, personalization of learning, expanding vocational pathways, and increasing participation in higher education.

1. UK School System (England)
 Key themes in Education
 Key facts
 Phases of Education
 Characteristics of State Schools
 National Curriculum
 National Assessment Framework
 Autonomy & Accountability
 Current Government Priorities

2. Three Themes in Education
 Centralisation of the curriculum, assessments and
standards
 Delegation to schools of the means to deliver the
national agenda but with very strong national framework
for accountability and inspection
 Local Authorities responsible for quality of education
locally and services for children and families

3. Facts of Education
91% pupils attend state schools
There are 8.3 million pupils in
25,300 schools in England 1% pupils attend special schools
7% pupils attend independent
schools
Distribution of pupils by school type
Nursery 37,530
State Primary 4,204,500
State Secondary 3,316,050
State Special 85,500
Independent Special 4,870
Pupil Referral Units 14,470
Independent 579,930
City Technology Colleges 16,460
Academies 15,200

4. Phases of Education
Phase Age of Pupils
(years)
Pre-school or Nursery Under 5
Primary Schools 5-11
Secondary Schools 11-16 or 11-18
Sixth Form Colleges 16-18
Further Education 16+
Colleges
Special Schools 3-18

5. Characteristics of State Schools
Characteristic Primary Secondary
% pupils eligible for 16.9 (includes 14
free school meals nursery)
% ethnic minorities 19.3 15.9
% first language 11.6 9
other than English
Average class size 26.2 21.7

6. The National Curriculum (1)
• Compulsory curriculum for pupils aged 5-14
(Key Stages 1-3) :
 English, Mathematics, Science
 History, Geography, Art and Design, Music
 Design and Technology, Information and
Communication Technology (ICT)
 Modern Foreign Language, Physical Education
 Religious Education (RE)
 Citizenship (not statutory at primary school)
 Sex and relationship education for pupils aged 8-14
 Careers education at 14

7. The National Curriculum (2)
• Pupils aged 14-16 (Key Stage 4)
 Compulsory:
English, Mathematics, Science, ICT, PE, RE,
Citizenship, careers and work-related learning
 Entitlement:
The Arts, Design & Technology, Modern Languages,
History or Geography
 Optional Subjects:
Arts Sciences, languages and Humanities,
vocational Qualifications, GSCE or equivalent
examinations
Careers Education, Sex Education and Work-related
learning are compulsory but not examined

8. The National Curriculum (3)
• Students aged 16-18 (Key Stage 5)
 Students choose from a wide range of academic and
vocational subjects and take Advanced Level or
equivalent examinations at the ages of 17 and 18.
Normally four or five subjects are taken in the first
year in the sixth form and three subjects in the
second year.
 Religious Education and ICT to GCSE standard
continue to be compulsory.

9. Specialised Diplomas 14 - 19
Specialised diplomas will be available at three levels:
Level 1, equivalent to four or five GCSEs
Level 2, equivalent to six GCSEs
Level 3, equivalent to three Advanced Levels
At levels 1 and 2 students study the core curriculum plus the
diploma. Level 3 prepares students for higher education

10. Transformation (1988 - 2008)
 Centralisation of the curriculum, assessment and
standards
 Delegation to schools of the means to deliver the
government agenda within a very strong national
framework for accountability and inspection
 Local Authorities responsible for quality of education
locally and services for children and families

11. National Assessment Framework
• Pupils are assessed at each Key Stage of the curriculum
 Tests at age 7, 11 and 14
(Key Stages 1, 2 and 3)
 General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) at 16
(Key Stage 4)
Pupils usually take 9 GCSE or equivalent
 Advanced Level GCE at 17 and 18
(Key Stage 5)
Pupils usually take 4-5 subjects in the first year of sixth form and 3-4 in their
second year
• Annual targets are set at national, local authority and school level

12. National Bodies
Qualifications and Curriculum Regulates, develops and modernises the
Authority curriculum, assessments, examinations
and qualifications
Office for Standards in Regulation and inspection of childcare,
Education (OfSTED) schools, colleges, children's services,
teacher training and youth work
Examination Boards Provide GCSE and Advanced Level
Examinations and vocational
qualifications for which schools and
colleges pay
Department for Children, Examples, DCSF National Director for
Schools and Families (DCSF) Languages: strategy in teaching
and Department for Innovation, languages, supported by centre for
Universities and Skills (DIUS), language teaching (CILT)
plus government funded non National College for School Leadership
governmental organisations

13. Autonomy of Schools
 The headteacher and senior leaders have
freedom to determine school ethos
 They have full responsibility for the quality of
education of pupils in their care
 Schools are responsible for
- Teaching and learning
- Appointment and management of all staff
- Buildings and site – including playing fields
- Budget

14. Accountability of schools
 A headteacher is accountable to a Governing body
that represents parents, the community and often the
Local Authority
 There are national standards for headteachers
 New headteachers must be accredited by the
National Professional Qualification for Headship
 Schools are regularly inspected by the Office for
Standards in Education (Ofsted)

15. Responsibilities of Local
Authorities (1)
 Accountable for standards in their area and advocate for
children and families
 Legally responsible for the actions of schools in their
areas
 Enabling schools, social care and health services to work
together in the interests of individual children within a
framework of children’s services and children’s trusts

16. Responsibilities of Local
Authorities (2)
 Ensuring children receive an education appropriate to
their needs
 Managing the admission of children to schools
 Distributing government funding to schools and deciding
on the proportion of the budget different schools receive

17. Government Priorities (1)
The Children’s Plan, incorporating Services shaped by and respond
to young people and families
Every Child Matters Integration of the services that
work with children
National Strategies at Key Stage 2 The standards unit at the DCSF is
(ages 8-11), Key Stage 3 (ages responsible for national
11-14) and Key Stage 4 (ages 14- programmes to improve teaching
16) and learning and literacy and
numeracy
Inclusion Children with physical disabilities
and learning and behavioural
difficulties to be educated in
mainstream schools

18. Government Priorities (2)
Personalisation Tailoring education to individual need,
interest and aptitude so that all pupils
achieve the highest standards possible,
whatever their economic circumstances
and prior achievement
Introduction of more Vocational diplomas in 14 areas
vocational pathways for will be introduced from 2008-
young people aged 14- 2015
19
Continued expansion of More than two thirds of secondary
specialist schools schools have subject specialisms

19. Government Priorities (3)
Remodelling the workforce to reduce bureaucracy and focus
on learning and teaching
ICT central to learning and All pupils to have a level 2
teaching qualification in ICT by the age of
18.
Increasing participation in Target of 50% attendance at
higher education university (44% attend now)
Schools to work in partnership Successful schools to join with
and federations with each failing schools and specialist
other and opportunity to create schools to support partners,
trust schools greater independence for trust
schools

20. Government Priorities (4)
Building schools for the Rebuild or renew all schools over a
future 10-15 year period
International Strategy Every child in England to have an
international experience while at
school
Healthy Schools Improving dietary, physical and
emotional health of young people
National skills strategy and Developing the skills of the
National Skills Alliance workforce to meet the needs of
(DCSF and Department for employers and improve the basic
Trade and Industry) skills of some adults

21. Thank You !