Education in England

Compulsory education
In England, children start school when they are 5 years old. They can leave at 16.

Examinations
Everybody does maths, science and English. They can also do history, geography, art., design and technology, a foreign language (usually French), physical education and music. There are exams at the ages of 8, 11, 14 and 16. some pupils stay and do exams at 18. then they can go to university.

Types of school
Most people start at a primary school and then go to a larger secondary schhol at the age of 11. Most schools are state schools, which provide free education, but there are also public schools, which the parents of pupils have to pay for.

The school day
The school day starts at 8.45am and finishes at 3.15pm. most lessons last forty ? five to sixty minutes, and there is usually an hour for lunch. There?s usually a break at 11.00am.

School terms
There are three terms a year: autumn, spring and summer. Holidays are usually two weeks at Christmas ans Easter, and six weeks in the summer.

Other activities
Most schools have sports grounds for football, cricket, rugby and athletisc. During the school year there are usually visits to museums and galleries, and to camps for outdoor activities such as climbing and canoeing.