UK primary and secondary school system

Education is compulsory for everyone between the ages of 5 and 16.

Children start at primary school at the age of four or five. For more information visit The UK School Curriculum website.

Secondary state maintained schools (or comprehensive schools), admit children turning 12 that academic year.

Download our Maintained Schools for more information

Education is provided for all children who are of compulsory school age (5-16 years), regardless of nationality, if a parent is legally resident in the UK for longer than 6 months. Visit the The Department for Education and Skills for more details.

Contact the Local Education Authorities(PDF document) for the area in the area you will live to arrange a school place.

Independent schools, 'private schools' or ‘public schools’ are privately funded from tuition fees and are independent of government control. They may be boarding or day schools, single-sex or co-educational. Download a pdf for further information on Independent schools or visit

• The Independent Schools of the British Isles
• The Independent Schools Council Information Service
• Schools 4 U

Term dates

The UK school year runs from early September to July.

UK Local Government Association recommended school term dates for students for 2006/07 are:

UK school qualifications

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams are formal, externally-marked school examinations usually taken at age 16 in the UK.

Students usually study between 8 and 12 GCSE subjects and the course takes two years.

A-levels and AS-levels are the equivalent of the Australian Year 12 High School Certificate.  A-levels take two years to complete.

Examinations are independently marked and graded. A-level grades range from A (the highest) to E.

For further information on GCSEs and GCE A-levels download our pdf.

Australian equivalents

UK universities list either A-level results or the A-level tariff as their academic entry requirements. The table below gives an approximate Australian school-level qualification equivalent for these scores.

UK GCSEs and GCE A-levels are not offered by the British Council in Australia. For further information on sitting GCSE or A-level examinations in Australia, contact us:

enquiries@britishcouncil.org.au