Education System of Great Britain, Usa and Australia

Education in Great Britain is divided into four areas. England and Wales have the same education system, unlike Northern Ireland and Scotland whos education system are different. In England and Wales education system consists of primary, secondary, further and higher education. Compulsory education last for 11 years and children are legally required to start attending school after their fifth birthday (or earlier) and finish it somewhere at the age of 16. Most pupils transfer from primary school to secondary school at age of 11 or 12. There is also middle-schools system in which students are transferred from primary school at the age of 8 or 9, then onto secondary schools at the age of 12 or 13. In Scotland, compulsory school also last for 11 years, starting at the age of 5 and finishing at the age of 16. In that time the pupils get full-time education which is suitable to their abilities and age. Education system is Northern Ireland is simillar to the ones of England, Wales and Scotland. Compulsory school lasts for 12 years, starting at the age of 4. In Great Britain, four Key Stages to education were established. Each key stage lasts for two years. The first key stage starts at the age of 5 and the last key stage is completed at the age of 16. At the end of each key stage, pupils are assessed by National Curriculum tests. The last, or fourth stage is assessed by levels of achievement acquired at the General Certificate of Secondary Education ( GCSE ). After completing GCSE, students have a choice of either continuing their education and applying to colleges or undertaking employment.
The situation in USA is different. In USA children are also legally required to start attending school at the age of 5, but there the first year in school is called kindergarten, and the second year is referred to as first grade. Primary education most commonly lasts for 5 year (5 grades), unlike Great Britain where primary education last for 7 years. After finishing primary