Facts and Figures

The United Kingdom comprises four nations: England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. From 1999, devolved government began to be introduced, with central government retaining its powers in areas of national sovereignty such as foreign policy, defence, energy, etc. However, a number of areas including education and training are now the responsibility of the respective Assemblies for Wales and Northern Ireland and the Scottish Parliament.

The British educational system therefore consists of the English, Welsh, and Northern Ireland systems, which are relatively similar, and a somewhat different Scottish system.

Accordingly, the information presented below refers to measures and observations valid either for the UK as a whole or for one or other of its nations; the territory concerned is indicated in each case. The case of Scotland is examined in more detail, through a study of the implementation of the GLOW virtual teaching platform.

In all four nations, education is compulsory from age 5 to 16 (from age 4 in Northern Ireland). There are two levels of compulsory schooling: primary school for pupils aged five to eleven (twelve in Scotland) and (lower) secondary education for pupils aged eleven to sixteen (twelve to sixteen in Scotland). Post-compulsory secondary education consists of two years (age sixteen to eighteen) and leads to A-level qualifications which give access to higher education. At the end of compulsory education, students can, alternatively, opt for ‘further education’, which includes various forms of non-university education for 16-19 year olds.

Some figures (sources : Department for Children, Schools and Families, Northern Ireland Department of Education Statistics and Research Branch, decentralised Scottish Executive Scotland. Reference year 2008-09) :

Most teachers are employed on contracts with the educational institution. Teachers’ participation in continuing education is obligatory. The educational systems of the four nations each have their own inspectorate.

Governance of the education system

Within each of the four nations, responsibilities are divided across three levels: the local area level, the school management, and its board of governors. Two tables summarising the distribution of powers as between and within each of the nations have been drawn up. Because of the amount of information presented and the format of these tables, they are placed in Appendix 3.