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Facts, Dates, Insight, Links

The curriculums studied by our children at school are set by the Education departments within each nation’s government.

The four nations in the UK broadly follow the same curriculum.

Primary and Secondary schools in England follow the national curriculum set by the UK government. In primary schools, the year groups are divided in Key Stages 1 and 2. At the end of each stage, students sit Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) to assess their progress.

For further details on the curriculum in England, please follow the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum

Primary and Secondary schools in Northern Ireland follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum created by CCEA (the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment) in Belfast. The Primary year groups are divided into Foundation Stage followed by Key Stages 1 and 2. At the end of each stage, students sit Levels of Progress assessments (LoP) to test their progress.

For further details on the curriculum in Northern Ireland, please follow the link below:

https://ccea.org.uk/learning-resources/northern-ireland-curriculum-primary

Primary and Secondary schools in Scotland follow the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) developed by the Scottish Government, which divides the year groups into Curriculum Levels. It principally contains a similar curriculum to the other nations, but gives more freedom for each school to make adjustments. At the end of each level, students sit The Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA) to assess their progress.

For further details on the curriculum in Scotland, please follow the link below:

https://www.gov.scot/policies/schools/school-curriculum/

From September 2022, schools in Wales have started following the Curriculum for Wales set by the Welsh government. Welsh schools will no longer follow the curriculum set by the UK government. It contains the mandatory areas of study and progression targets for Primary and Secondary education, and each school uses this as the basis to design its own curriculum. Unlike other nations, there is no division of year groups in Key Stages or Curriculum Levels, and schools set their own assessments to check students’ progress within their curriculum.

For further details on the the Curriculum for Wales, please follow the link below:

https://hwb.gov.wales/curriculum-for-wales

The information below may be useful when assessing the advantages and disadvantages of attending non-selective state, independent Prep or Pre-prep schools.

At age 4—5 and older (mandatory)

Non-selective state schools:

• Entrance exams: no
• Annual tuition fees: no (state-funded)
• Usual Point of entry: Reception (England), Year 1 (Northern Ireland), Primary 1 (Scotland), Reception (Wales)
• Catered until: Year 6 (England), Year 7 (Northern Ireland), Primary 7 (Scotland), Year 6 (Wales)
• Curriculum: follows the national curriculum
• Range of academic standard: wide
• Other characteristics: usually within the local area and easier to access

Independent Pre-prep schools:

• Entrance exams: depending on the institution
• Annual tuition fees: typically £5,000 to £20,000, depending on the institution
• Usual Point of entry: Reception (England), Year 1 (Northern Ireland), Primary 1 (Scotland), Reception (Wales)
• Catered until: Year 2 (England), Year 3 (Northern Ireland), Primary 3 (Scotland), Year 2 (Wales)
• Curriculum: flexible, not required to follow the national curriculum
• Range of academic standard: depends on the entrance criteria
• Other characteristics: prepares students for entrance exams for selective Prep and/or Secondary schools

Independent Prep schools:

• Entrance exams: depending on the institution (but most likely yes)
• Annual tuition fees: typically £5,000 to £20,000, depending on the institution
• Usual Point of entry: Year 3 (England), Year 4 (Northern Ireland), Primary 4 (Scotland), Year 3 (Wales)
• Catered until: Year 6/8 (England), Year 7/9 (Northern Ireland), Primary 7 (Scotland), Year 6/8 (Wales)
• Curriculum: flexible, not required to follow the national curriculum
• Range of academic standard: depends on the entrance criteria
• Other characteristics: prepares students for Common Entrance Exams for selective Secondary schools

At age 3—5 or below (non-mandatory)

Pre-schools (Nursery schools)

• Funding type: state or independent
• Linked directly to Primary schools: mostly yes
• Point of entry: typically between age 3—5
• Annual tuition fees if independent: typically £6,000 to £20,000, depending on the institution
• Curriculum: follows the national curriculums of early years foundation
• Opening times: usually within school hours in term time
• Other characteristics: prepares children for their transition to Primary schools, focussing more on academic skills

Day Nurseries

• Funding type: state or independent
• Linked directly to Primary schools: mostly no
• Point of entry: typically between age 3—5, occasionally caters for younger children from 6 months old
• Annual tuition fees: typically £6,893 to £13,700, depending on the institution, the age of child and part-time/full-time care
• Curriculum: follows the national curriculums of early years foundation
• Opening times: flexible
• Other characteristics: mainly provide childcare for parents who are working

The information below may be useful when assessing the advantages and disadvantages of attending non-selective state, grammar and independent schools.

Non-selective state schools:

• Entrance exams: no
• Annual tuition fees: no (state-funded)
• Point of entry: Year 7 (England), Year 8 (Northern Ireland), Secondary 1 (Scotland), Year 7 (Wales)
• Curriculum: follows the national curriculum
• Range of academic standard: wide
• Other characteristics: usually within the local area and easier to access

Grammar schools:

• Entrance exams: yes
• Annual tuition fees: no (state-funded)
• Point of entry: Year 7 (England), Year 8 (Northern Ireland), Secondary 1 (Scotland), Year 7 (Wales)
• Curriculum: follows the national curriculum
• Range of academic standard: narrow, similar across cohort
• Other characteristics: typically have strict disciplinary standards

Independent schools:

• Entrance exams: depending on the institution (but most likely yes)
• Annual tuition fees: typically £12,000 to £35,000, depending on the institution
• Point of entry: Year 7 or 9 (England), Year 8 or 10 (Northern Ireland), Secondary 1 or 3 (Scotland), Year 7 or 9 (Wales)
• Curriculum: flexible, not required to follow the national curriculum
• Range of academic standard: depends on the entrance criteria
• Other characteristics: often have excellent facilities for extra-curricular activities

You may find these school search tools and the latest league tables informative:

England:

School search:
https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk

League table:
https://www.locrating.com/league_tables.aspx

Northern Ireland:

School search:
https://www.eani.org.uk/search-schools

League table:
https://www.edarabia.com/map/schools/northern-ireland/

Scotland:

School search:
https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/my-school/school-information-dashboard/

League table:
https://www.schoolguide.co.uk/primary-schools/Scotland

Wales:

School search:
https://mylocalschool.gov.wales

League table:
https://www.schoolguide.co.uk/primary-schools/Wales

Alternatively, please read the school’s prospectus for full details.

You may find these school search tools and the latest league tables informative:

England:

School search:
https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk

League table:
https://www.locrating.com/league_tables.aspx

Northern Ireland:

School search:
https://www.eani.org.uk/search-schools

League table (Non-grammar schools):
https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/02/07/news/school-performance-lists-new-catholic-school-st-kevin-s-takes-top-spot-1835850/

League table (Grammar schools):
https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/02/07/news/school-performance-lists-st-louis-achieves-perfect-score-1835818/

Scotland:

School search:
https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/my-school/school-information-dashboard/

League table:
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/5565713/scotland-schools-best-worst-league-table-results/

Wales:

School search:
https://mylocalschool.gov.wales

League table:
https://www.schoolguide.co.uk/secondary-schools/Wales

Alternatively, please read the school’s prospectus for full details.

To learn more about the reputations of the schools in your area, please refer to the school guides below:

https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/school-search

In the UK, all educational and care providers are evaluated by outside inspectors on a regular basis. The inspectors observe and report on the performances of their services, based on a set of criteria including the quality of teaching, learners’ attitudes and their personal development. The ultimate goal of these inspections is to regulate and improve the educational services for all ages.

The organisation in charge of inspecting the school depends on the nations. For more information, please visit the official site for each organisation.

England:
Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education)

Northern Ireland:
ETI (The Education and Training Inspectorate)

Scotland:
Education Scotland

Wales:
Estyn

NB: Some independent schools are inspected by ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate).

SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) are the assessments in England given to Primary school students at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 6). The children are tested on English and Maths.

All students at state-funded schools sit national assessments to provide a reflection on their progress, but they are not compulsory for independent schools.

LoP (Levels of Progression) are the assessments in Northern Ireland given to Primary school students at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 4) and Key Stage 2 (Year 7). The children are tested on Literacy, Numeracy and ICT.

All students at state-funded schools sit national assessments to provide a reflection on their progress, but they are not compulsory for independent schools.

SNSA (Scottish National Standardised Assessments) are the assessments in Scotland given to Primary school students at the end of Early Level (Primary 1), 1st Level (Primary 4) and 2nd Level (Primary 7). The children are tested on Literacy and Numeracy.

All students at state-funded schools sit national assessments to provide a reflection on their progress, but they are not compulsory for independent schools.

Following the introduction of the new Curriculum for Wales from September 2022, students in Wales no longer sit nationwide assessments (the National Tests).

Instead, each school develops its own assessment arrangements to check students’ progress throughout Primary and Secondary years. Students in Year 1 to 11 are assessed on the mandatory areas of study, including literacy, numeracy, digital competence and Welsh culture. Within the first six weeks of Reception year, children also take baseline assessments for schools to identify their initial strengths and targets.

For more information, please check:

https://hwb.gov.wales/curriculum-for-wales/assessment-arrangements/what-s-changing-in-assessment/