The British School System
The British School System
How do children go to school in the U.K.? Is it the same as in Denmark? Let’s find out!
Starting school
In the U.K., children start school when they are 4 or 5 years old. That is very young! The first class is called Reception.
In Denmark, children start in 0. klasse when they are about 6.
In the U.K., classes are called Years. After Reception comes Year 1, then Year 2, and so on.
The school steps
Reception
Age 4–5The first year. Children play, sing and learn letters and numbers.
Primary school
Year 1–6 · Age 5–11Children learn to read, write and do maths. One teacher has the class most of the day.
Secondary school
Year 7–11 · Age 11–16A new, bigger school. Students have many teachers and many subjects.
Sixth form or college
Age 16–18Students learn more about a few subjects. Then some go to university.
School uniform 👔
Most British children wear a school uniform. All the children in the school wear the same clothes.
- 👕 a white shirt or a polo shirt
- 🧥 a jumper or a blazer in the school colour
- 👔 sometimes a tie
- 👖 grey or black trousers or a skirt
- 👞 black shoes
In Denmark, children do not wear a school uniform. What do you think? Is a uniform a good idea? 🤔
A school day
Here is a normal day at a British primary school:
- 8:45 School starts. The teacher calls the register (who is here today?).
- 9:00 Assembly – the whole school meets in the hall.
- 9:20 English and maths lessons.
- 10:30 Break time – play outside! ⚽
- 12:00 Lunch – a hot school dinner or a packed lunch from home. 🥪
- 13:00 More lessons: science, art, P.E. …
- 15:15 School ends. Time to go home! 🏠
British children often stay at school longer than Danish children.
More fun facts
- 👩🏫 Children call the teacher “Miss”, “Sir” or “Mrs Smith” – not the first name like in Denmark.
- 🏆 Many schools have houses. The houses have names or colours. Children get points for their house.
- 📅 The school year has three parts called terms. In the middle of each term there is a short holiday called half-term.
- ☀️ The summer holiday is about 6 weeks.
- 📝 In Year 6, children take tests called SATs. At 16 they take big exams called GCSEs.
- 👨💼 The boss of the school is called the head teacher.
- 🏴 In Scotland, the school system is a little different. The classes are called P1–P7 and S1–S6.
The U.K. and Denmark
| The U.K. 🇬🇧 | Denmark 🇩🇰 | |
|---|---|---|
| Start school | 4–5 years old | about 6 years old |
| Uniform | Yes | No |
| The teacher | “Miss” or “Sir” | first name |
| Lunch | school dinner or packed lunch | madpakke |
| Schools | primary + secondary | folkeskole (0.–9. klasse) |
Word list
| English | Dansk |
|---|---|
| school uniform | skoleuniform |
| head teacher | skoleleder |
| primary school | indskoling/mellemtrin (ca. 5–11 år) |
| secondary school | udskoling (ca. 11–16 år) |
| break time | frikvarter |
| packed lunch | madpakke |
| subject | fag |
| lesson | time / lektion |
| homework | lektier |
| exam | eksamen / prøve |
| term | skoleperiode |