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Describe the Education System in Britain.

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I. Background
Education is overseen by the Department of Education and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. Learners can attend mainstream education system or otherwise.
The National Curriculum has 12 subjects: the core /compulsory ones are English, Math, and Sciences for all students aged 5 to 16. Foundation subjects are ranging from other subject compulsory at one or more key stages; art and design, citizenship, design and technology, geography, history, ICT, modern foreign languages, music, PE, e.t.c. There are also non-statutory subjects in the Curriculum: religious education (is all key stages), sex education (from key stage 2), and career education and work-related learning in key stages 3 and 4.

II. Levels
- The education system is divided into nursery (3-4 years), primary education (4-11 years), secondary education (11-18 years) and tertiary education (18+ years).
- Full-time education is compulsory for all children aged between 5 and 16, either at school, or otherwise, with a child beginning primary education during the school year s/he turns 5.
- Students may then continue their secondary studies for a further 2 years (6th form), leading to A-level
qualifications, although other qualifications and courses exist, e.g., Business and technology Education Council (BTEC) qualification, International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Cambridge Pre-U.
- The leaving age for compulsory education was raised to 18 years by the Education and Skills Act 2008 which will take effect in 2013.
- There is also a tradition of independent schooling, but parents may choose to educate their children by any suitable means.
- Higher education often begins with a 3-year Bachelor’s degree.
- Post-graduate degrees include masters’ degrees (taught or by research), and the Doctorate (a research degree usually takes at least 3 years.

III. Administration and Financing
- Almost all state-funded schools in Britain are maintained schools, which receive funding from local authorities and follow the National Curriculum.
- All teachers are employed under the nationally agreed School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document.
- The 4 main types of maintained schools are community schools, Voluntary Controlled schools, Voluntary Aided schools and Foundation schools.

Titany answered the question on August 10, 2021 at 10:07

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Describe the Education System in Britain.

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