Education in Wales differs in certain respects from the system used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Basically, there are two education systems: one covering England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and one covering Scotland. The two systems have different emphases: traditionally the English, Welsh, and Northern Irish system has emphasised depth of education, whereas the Scottish system has emphasised breadth. Thus English, Welsh, and Northern Irish students tend to sit a small number of more advanced examinations, while Scottish students tend to sit a larger number of less advanced examinations. Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Ethnicity... National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location within the UK Official languages English(100%), Welsh(20. ... Royal motto: Quis separabit (Latin: Who will separate?) Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685,267 122/km² NUTS 1... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Main languages English Scots Scottish Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...

In general, the cut-off point for ages is the end of August, so all children must be of a certain age on 1 September in order to begin class that month. September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ...

The system of statutory national key-stage tests in Wales was, until 2000, the same as in England, and was managed by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA). In 2000, the National Assembly for Wales took responsibility for these tests in Wales, at which point they were developed by test agencies on behalf on ACCAC, whilst the tests in England were developed for the QCA. In 2002, the Welsh Assembly decided to stop the tests at Key Stage One. Instead, optional teacher-assessment materials were provided to schools in 2003 for use in English, mathematics, and Welsh. These had been adapted from materials that had originally been developed by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and the other test agencies to be used as statutory assessment materials for 2003. At the end of 2003, the Daugherty Report was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly to undertake a review of the country's assessment procedures. The interim report by the committee was perceived by the media as supporting a complete abolishment of the assessments at key stages two and three. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is a non-governmental public body. ... The National Assembly for Wales (or NAW) (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) was established in 1998, following the approval by a small majority of Welsh voters in a referendum held in 1997 of the Labour Governments proposals for devolution. ... Awdurdod Cymwysterau, Cwricwlwm ac Asesu Cymru (ACCAC) is the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales. ... The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is a non-governmental public body. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) was founded in 1946 as a centre for educational research and development in England and Wales. ... Learning pathways through statutory assessment: Key Stages 2 and 3, also known as the Daugherty Report is a review of the assessment system for Key Stages 2 and 3 (11 and 14 year olds) in Wales. ...

A significant number of students in Wales are educated either wholly or largely through the medium of Welsh; lessons in the language are compulsory for all until the age of 16. Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ...

School years

• Primary Education
  • Primary School or Infant School
    • Reception, age 4 to 5
    • Year 1, age 5 to 6
    • Year 2, age 6 to 7 (end of Key Stage One Teacher Assessments)
  • Primary School or Junior School
    • Year 3, age 7 to 8
    • Year 4, age 8 to 9
    • Year 5, age 9 to 10
    • Year 6, age 10 to 11 (End of Key Stage Two Tests and Tasks)
• Secondary Education
  • Secondary School or High School
    • Year 7, old First Form, age 11 to 12
    • Year 8, old Second Form, age 12 to 13
    • Year 9, old Third Form, age 13 to 14 (End of Key Stage Three Tests and Tasks)
    • Year 10, old Fourth Form, age 14 to 15
    • Year 11, old Fifth Form, age 15 to 16 (old O Level examinations, modern GCSE examinations)
  • Secondary School, or Sixth Form College
    • Year 12 or Lower Sixth, age 16 to 17 (AS-level examinations)
    • Year 13 or Upper Sixth, age 17 to 18 (A2-level examinations. Both AS-levels and A2-levels count towards 'A'-levels.)

The General Certificate of Education or GCE was introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1951, replacing the older SC and HSC. It was intended to cater for the increased range of subjects available to pupils since the raising of the school leaving age from 14 to 15 in... For other meanings of GCSE, see GCSE (disambiguation). ... A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales or Northern Ireland where students aged 16 to 18 complete post-compulsary further education qualifications, such as A Levels. ... An A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education usually taken during Further Education and after GCSEs. ...

See also

• Education in England
• Education in Northern Ireland
• Education in Scotland
• Education in the United Kingdom
• Education by country
• University of Wales
• Blue book
• Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification

Education in England may differ from the system used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. ... Education in Northern Ireland differs slightly from the system used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. ... Education in Scotland differs from the system used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. ... Education in the United Kingdom is covered in the following articles: Education in England Education in Northern Ireland Education in Scotland Education in Wales Grammar schools in the United Kingdom Achievement in British Education List of schools in the United Kingdom British universities School inspection organisations: Office for Standards in... This is a list of articles on education organized by country: Education in Afghanistan Education in Albania Education in Algeria Education in Argentina Education in Australia Education in Austria Education in Belgium Education in Brazil Education in Bulgaria Education in Canada Education in Québec Education in the Peoples... The University of Wales, or Prifysgol Cymru in Welsh, is a federal university founded in 1893. ... In the UK, Blue book is the nickname given to a parliamentary paper with a blue cover. ... The Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification (WBQ or Welsh Bac) is a pre-university qualification which may in the future be offered in schools and colleges in Wales in place of A-levels. ...

External links

• Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales in English and Welsh