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Message: <blockquote data-quote="delericho" data-source="post: 3714395" data-attributes="member: 22424">Actually, that doesn't apply to the whole of the UK - Scotland have a different system (Although some of the private schools in Scotland use the 'English' model of A-levels).In Scotland, all pupils receive a Primary education lasting 7 years, starting from the age of 5 (so, 5 - 11ish). Thereafter, one proceeds to Secondary education, where one attends for between 4 and 6 years (12 - 16, 17, or 18).At 14 years old (Third Year), you start Standard grades, which are very similar to the English GCSEs. Maths and English are mandatory, and I think one language. Otherwise, the selection depends on the school. By law, Scottish schools also require pupils do at least one hour of PE and Religious Studies per week until the age of 16. Most pupils take 8 Standard Grades.At 16 (Fifth Year), pupils study for Higher grades, which are one-year courses. Typically, a pupil will take five such courses.Finally, at 17 (Sixth Year), pupils who have stuck it out this long have various options: retake Higher grades in subjects that were not up to scratch, take additional subjects at Higher level, or proceed to the badly-named Higher Still courses, which are an additional year of study in a given subject. (Sixth Year education seems to get revised every few years in Scotland. When I was at school, I did Certificates of Sixth Year Study. This has been revised at least twice since then. But, while the names change, the principle of the courses stay the same. Oh, and unless things have changed, most schools only offer Higher Still courses in one or two subjects, if at all.)The net effect of all of this is that Scottish children receive a broader education than their English counterparts, but to a lesser depth. Or, at least, that's the theory. As in England, every year we have a round of "standards are slipping!!!", while at the same time our politicians point to an increased pass-rate to show that education is better than ever. I would comment on this, but I always feel it is monstrously unfair on the latest batch of school-leavers to talk about possible slipping standards just as they're getting their exam results.Typically, Scottish universities look for at least three Higher grades, at grade C or better. However, Scottish universities also vary very widely in the level of students they will consider. On a UK basis, 5 'A's at Higher level is, in theory, considered as good as 3 'A's at A-level. In reality, English universities will always give the edge to the A-level student, since that's what they understand. Scottish universities have to be more open to A-levels, due to the relative population sizes.The final difference between education between England and Scotland is that there are no tuition fees as such in Scottish universities (for Scottish students, I think). One of the biggest things the Scottish Parliament did was reverse the Westminster legislation on this. University funding in Scotland is handled very differently, with students being required to pay an "Endowment" before graduating. This seems to be much less than the English fees, and is obviously only payable on graduation, so if you don't qualify you don't pay. However, it is now starting to place something of a financial strain on Scottish universities. Time will tell how this pays out. For the moment, however, this change is a massive benefit to Scottish students over our English (or American) counterparts.</blockquote>

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