School system in Great Britain
School is compulsory for children between the age of 5 to 16. Primary schools are for ages between 5 – 11 and Secondary schools are for ages over 11. Children under the age of five go to kindergarten. In Britain, 93% of pupils go to state schools. At the age of 16 about two thirds (2/3) of these pupils leave school and get jobs or apprenticeships. This system of education is free of charge. Some children take the Certificate of Secondary Education (C. S. E.) which means the satisfactory completion of school at the age of 16. More ambitious children take the examinations for the General Certificate of Secondary Education at ordinary level (GCSE – O level) or advanced level (GCSE – A level) at the age of 18. The GCSE – A level is the basic qualification to enter university. There are more than 40 universities in Great Britain.
