Public education in Great Britain consists of Primary, Secondary and further education. Primary and Secondary education is compulsory for all children. Further education is optional. State schools are free and they provide their pupils with books and equipment for their studies.
In Great Britain boys and girls go to school from the age of 5 to 16; but many stay at school until they are 17-18 and go to further education or to universities.
The school year in Great Britain begins in the first or second week of September and it is over in mid July. Some secondary schools are only for boys, some are only for girls and some are mixed.
The children come to school at 9 in the morning. From 1 to 2 p.m. there is a lunch break or dinner-time. Then the children have their lessons again. Classes finish at around 3:30 p.m. Schools are open 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday.
The Primary School
The primary school includes nursery school (2-5, not compulsory), infant school (5-7) and junior school (7-11). At infant schools children learn the “3 Rs”: reading, writing and arithmetic. In addition, they draw, paint, model, sing and dramatize. The junior school is usually situated in a separate building or in another section of the same building. At this age the following subjects are included in the curriculum: English, mathematics, history, geography, music and PE (physical education.