The British Education System. State Education in Britain

All state schools in Britain are free, and schools provide their pupils with, books and equipment for their studies. Nine million children attend 35.000 schools in Britain. Education vs compulsory from 5 till 16 years. Parents can choose to send their children to a nursery school or a pre-school playgroup to prepare them for the start of compulsory education. Children start primary school at 5 and continue until they are most children are taught together, boys and girls in the same class. At 11 most pupils go to secondary schools called comprehensives which accept a wide range of children from all backgrounds and religious and ethnic groups. Ninety per cent of secondary schools in England, Scotland and Wales ate coeducational. At 16 pupils take a national exam called «G.C.S.E.» (General Certificate Secondary Education) and then they can leave school if they wish.