PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

PIRLS 2006 Encyclopediaprimary education is nonselective. Most secondary education is also nonselective, withstudents attending a local school based on parental choice. However, a minority ofschools operate some form of selection based on ability or aptitude.Table 1 shows the structure of the three major phases of the education system:preprimary (up to age 5), primary (5 to 11 years), and secondary (11 to 16 years). Allpublicly funded schools must follow the National Curriculum for students ages 5 to 16,the years of compulsory schooling. This curriculum was introduced in 1989 and revised in2000. In the foreword to the 2000 curriculum, the aim of the curriculum is specified:[The National Curriculum] sets out a clear, full and statutory entitlementto learning for all students up to the age of 16. It determines the contentof what will be taught and sets attainment targets for learning. It alsodetermines how performance will be assessed and reported. 9Table 1Structure of the Education SystemCompulsory educationPhase Preprimary Primary SecondaryAge Up to age 5 5 to 11 years 11 to 16 yearsStage Foundation stage: 3–5yearsFoundation stage: (to endof reception year)Key stage 1: 5–7 yearsKey stage 2: 7–11 yearsKey stage 3: 11–14 yearsKey stage 4: 14–16 yearsISCED Level 0 Level 1 Level 2CurriculumPersonal, social, andemotional development;communication, language,and literacy; mathematicaldevelopment; knowledgeand understandingof the world; physicaldevelopment; creativedevelopment.Core subjects: English,mathematics, science;Foundation subjects:design and technology,information andcommunication technology,history, geography, art anddesign, music, and physicaleducation. Religiouseducation is also taught.Key stage 3: as for primaryplus a modern foreignlanguage and citizenship.Key stage 4: the threecore subjects plus designtechnology, information andcommunication technology,modern foreign language,physical education, andcitizenship.EnglandRole of Preprimary EducationA wide range of provisions exist for children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years,including child minders (i.e., persons who care for children in homes), day nurseries,preschool groups and play groups (from ages 2½ to 5), nursery schools or classes (ages3–5), and reception classes in primary schools (from age 4). Since April 2004, all 3- and4-year-olds are entitled to free, part-time preschool education in a variety of provisions,including preschools and play groups.In January 2006, most 4-year-olds (79%) were receiving their preschool educationin publicly funded nursery and primary schools, and all of these children received some112