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High school in England?

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friglesnart
Posts: 68 - Karma: 10
Well, I am doing a research project for school, and I was wondering how the grade systems work, average school day length, class registration, and any other things that you deem fit. Thanks a ton for anyone who responds. And yes I googled it with not much to get from it.
Apr 28 2011 2:43PM
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Mr.Turtle
Posts: 3690 - Karma: 96
i heard they get A-stars instead of A+s
Apr 28 2011 2:44PM
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JDA
Posts: 572 - Karma: 566
Usually the school day starts at 8.30-9.00 and finishes from 2.30 to about 4.30 with a 15 minute break in the morning and an hour for lunch. You start secondary school (high school equivalent) at age 11 and finish at 16. The exam systems work like this- You do a GCSE which stands for a General Certificate of Secondary Education and you take these at ages 14-16 (finals at 16) You usually take around 8-15 GCSE's.
At age 16 you move onto a 6th Form or a College from 16-18 where you do A-Levels which stands for Advance Levels this happens at 6th Forms rather than colleges. At Colleges there tend to be more hands on courses such as apprenticeships for electricians and plumbers. You usually take 3, 4 or 5 A-Levels depending on your ability.

The grading systems in all exams are U, G, F, E, D, C, B, A, A*

Also if you don't want to take exams there are GCSE equivalents which are all coursework called B-TEC's or OCRs but these are generally for the less able students

Hope this helps!!
Apr 28 2011 4:13PM
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Martins10
Posts: 31 - Karma: 11
Hi, I'm from england so can fill you in !

The grade system at GCSE level works from U as upgradable being the lowest, F, E , D ,C ,B ,A, and finally A* being the highest grade possible, most A* are achieved for getting above 90%.
Days usually start between 8-9 in the morning, with some sort of registration period at the beginning, or a break time, which is usaully around 10:30. The day has lunch around 12:30, with the end of the day being around 3:30 to 4:15, however once in college this becomes later as twilight periods are usually introduced.
College is years 12 and 13, and in the UK you get A levels which enable you to get into a university, like i guess in the US to study a degree.

Times for school and college opening and closure can vary in private schools and religious schools, and they may be required to attend on saturdays.


Hope this helps and good luck ! :)
Dec 23 2011 6:11PM
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MikeWalsh
Posts: 486 - Karma: 13
we dont work in grades usually unless in private school. it works in years.

primary school starts at age 4 in reception

4-5 reception
5-6 year 1
6-7 year 2
7-8 year 3
8-9 year 4
9-10 year 5
10-11 year 6 last year of primary school, a lot of smaller rural primary schools have dual year groups so for example years 4 and 5 are one class.

secondry school (highschool/middle school... i have no idea about american system)

11-12 year 7 first years
12-13 year 8 (the most pointless year in the u.k system, you do litterally nothing of importance, or atleast i didnt)
13-14 year 9 start GCSEs in some subjects
14-15 year 10 start all GCSEs usually first set of exams in june july
15-16 year 11 final gcse year with exams/ course work

sixth form/ college
16-17 year 12 As levels which make up 50 % of total a level grade
17-18 year 13 a levels

weirdly its a big step up from gcse to a level its super intense and hard work. though i still didnt do any, now im 2nd year at uni and work is very easy compared to a level.


a little note on term dates, usually start first week of september then have a week break mid october then continue and have a 2 week christmas break then starting first week of jan back to school till mid feb for a week, then to easter in school, 2 weeks at easter then back till summer holidays in mid july.

if you have any specific questions you can pm me if you want.

hope that helps.
Dec 23 2011 6:30PM
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MikeWalsh
Posts: 486 - Karma: 13
ooo something you may find interesting is that we have a national curriculem so everyone is taught the same subjects in our schools at the same ages. you do a core of sciences maths (mathS!!!!) english. But everyone in state rub school has to be taught the same things. In public school (private school) they can teach what they want but still have to follow basic curriculem guidance. If i was you id write something about this as it would be easy to compare and analyse.

Wikipedia is your friend!
Dec 23 2011 6:43PM
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