Anyone who wants to send their child to an English school for a term, a school year or through to their final qualifications soon comes across unfamiliar terms: Year 9, GCSE, sixth form, half term. Here you will find an overview of the most important basics of the English school system, and what they mean for families from Germany.
How is the school system in England structured?
In England, compulsory schooling starts at the age of 5. All children attend school until 16, after which they remain in education or training until 18: at school, in an apprenticeship or in another form of further education.
The year groups are called years and are numbered consecutively:
- Primary school: Reception (ages 4–5) and Year 1 to Year 6 (ages 5–11)
- Secondary school: Year 7 to Year 11 (ages 11–16), ending with the GCSE exams
- Sixth form: Year 12 and Year 13 (ages 16–18), ending with A levels or the IB Diploma
The school year starts in September. Which year a child is in depends on their age on 1 September.
Year in England, grade in Germany
Because English children start school earlier, the year is usually one level above the German grade. As a rough guide:
| Age at the start of the school year | England | Germany (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Year 7 | 6th grade |
| 12 | Year 8 | 7th grade |
| 13 | Year 9 | 8th grade |
| 14 | Year 10 | 9th grade |
| 15 | Year 11 | 10th grade |
| 16 | Year 12 | 11th grade |
| 17 | Year 13 | 12th grade |
The exact allocation depends on the child’s birthday and on the German federal state. We will clarify with the school which year is right for your child.
What types of school are there?
- State schools: free of charge for children who live in England. Most are comprehensive schools; some select their pupils by ability (grammar schools).
- Private schools (independent schools): are funded by school fees. Many of them are boarding schools, where the students also live.
- Prep schools and senior schools: In the private sector there is often a preparatory school up to the age of 11 or 13 (prep school) and a secondary school up to 18 (senior school). The move between them involves entrance exams and interviews.
For students from Germany, a stay is usually possible at a private boarding school. Find out more on our pages “Private boarding schools in England” and “State boarding schools in England”.
GCSE: the qualification at 16
At the end of Year 11, students take the GCSE exams (General Certificate of Secondary Education). Preparation begins in Year 10 and lasts two years. Around eight to ten subjects are usual, including English and mathematics. In England, GCSE grades are awarded as numbers from 9 (the best grade) to 1.
Good GCSE results are the basis for choosing subjects in the sixth form.
Sixth form: the final stage of school
The sixth form covers the final school years, Year 12 and Year 13. Here students specialise and take A levels or the IB Diploma. Both lead to university. We explain how both qualifications work and whether they are recognised in Germany on our page “The German Abitur in England: IB and A levels”.
Terms and holidays
The English school year has three terms:
- Autumn term: September to December
- Spring term: January to March or April
- Summer term: April to July
In the middle of each term there is a week’s holiday, the half term. Boarding schools usually also have individual free weekends (exeat weekends). Many private schools have slightly longer holidays than state schools.
A stay at a school in England is possible from just one term.
Scotland and Wales
Scotland has its own school system: the year groups there are called P1 to P7 (primary) and S1 to S6 (secondary), and the qualifications are Nationals, Highers and Advanced Highers. Wales largely follows the English structure but still awards letter grades for GCSEs.
When is the best time for your child?
Common starting points for students from Germany are:
- Year 9: good for a term or a school year before GCSE preparation begins
- Year 10: for those who want to stay until they complete their GCSEs
- Year 12: for the two years of the sixth form with A levels or the IB
Anyone returning to their school in Germany after a stay should clarify beforehand how the time in England will be credited there. Each German federal state sets its own rules for this.
How much does a school year in England cost?
You can read about what a boarding school in England costs and what is included on our page “How much does a boarding school in England cost?”.
