Education in Great Britain

In Great Britain education is compulsory for all children from 5 to 16 years of age. Before 5
some children attend Nursery Schools, while most children start their basic education in an
Infant School, which is the first stage of Primary Education. In Primary School children are
taught the so-called 3R’s- reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as elementary science and
information technology. They also have music, physical training and art classes.
At the age of 11 children transfer to Comprehensive Schools. These schools give general
education and a wide range of academic courses leading to the public examinations taken at 16.
They also provide some vocational courses.
Along with the state schools there are about 500 private schools in Britain. Most of these
Independent or Public Schools charge fees and there are boarding schools, where the children
actually live in the school.