2.1. Types of secondary schools

In UK two types of secondary education can be distinguished – selective and non-selective (comprehensive).

Within the non-selective (comprehensive) system, at the age of 11 children may go directly to a secondary comprehensive school.

Secondary comprehensive schools are state schools for children from the age of 11 to at least 16 that do not select children on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. In the United Kingdom comprehensive schools were introduced in the late 1940s to the early 1970s. Some 90% of British pupils are educated at comprehensive schools.

Since this school teaches a comprehensive range of subjects across the academic and vocational spectrum it is commonly understood that the school will need to be of a large size and to take children from a wide ability range.

Within the selective system pupils may choose between grammar schools, technical schools and secondary modern schools.

Grammar schools are secondary schools attended by pupils aged 11 to 18 to which entry is controlled by means of an academically selective process which sometimes consists of a written examination (the eleven plus). Grammar schools give pupils a very high level of academic instruction. After leaving a grammar school, as with any other secondary school, a student may go into further education.

Secondary technical schools. These were a type of secondary schools in the United Kingdom that existed in the mid-20^th century. Their aim was to teach mechanical, scientific and engineering skills to serve industry and science. For various reasons few were ever built, and their main interest is on a theoretical level.

Technical schools were a modest success, given their limited resources and lack of government attention. Their curriculum was well shaped for dealing with real world employment, and had a solid practical edge. The schools had good links with industry and commerce. Nowadays there are just a few technical schools in England and Wales.

Secondary modern schools were formed in the UK after World War II and are intended for children who would be going into a trade and thus concentrate on the basics plus practical skills (cooking, woodwork, metalwork, etc.)^*.

2.2. The main school examination

At the end of Year 11, pupils aged 16 (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) take a public examination called theGeneral Certificate of Secondary Education(GCSE)(at Ordinary level (“O” level)) in a number of subjects, usually between 8 and 10. These consist of a mixture of internally assessed coursework and end-of-year examinations set and marked by independent examination boards. The results appear as grades A-G, where A is the top grade (a starred A* was introduced in 1994 for the best of the A grades). A, B or C grades are normally regarded as equivalent to the“pass”grades.

After sitting the exams, secondary students may leave school to enter the workforce, pursue training programmes at technical or vocational schools^**, or continue studying for two more years at Sixth Form Colleges.