One must choose where to enrol their children in schools in UK after the family has moved there. Experts have compared the public school systems in South Africa and the UK to simplify this process and provide students with the best information available.
The UK’s public education system will probably be a beautiful alternative if one is relocating there with kids. The British educational system, however, differs significantly from the one they are used to. It may be challenging in a foreign nation to comprehend a different learning manner. To ensure nothing is a surprise when the children first make the big step, experts have broken down the most crucial variables worth considering in South Africa vs the United Kingdom education system.
The Difference In The Education System
Groupings By Years And Age
Children in the UK enter reception (kindergarten) at age four and their first year of formal education at age five. The children will have likely started school at age six in South Africa.
Education System
Public schools are available in South Africa (also known as government schools)
- Model C Institutions
- Independent Schools
The UK possesses the following:
- Public schools (comparable to our government schools)
- Independent or Private Schools (comparable to our private schools)
There are two types of schools in the UK: public and private. The primary and secondary schools supported by the government are open to everyone. Grammar schools are government-funded secondary schools with strict admission requirements and call for a single entrance exam for all candidates. Preparatory or senior schools are the familiar names for fee-paying private schools.
The state-funded system is currently split into three phases:
Children taking A-Levels, GNVQs, BTECs, and other qualifications should be between the ages of 16 and 18 in primary education.
In the UK, elementary and secondary education is required for every child, while postsecondary education is entirely elective.
The Calendar Year
South Africa and the UK have specific educational calendars. In contrast to South Africa, where schools start in September and end in July, schools in the UK begin in January and end in December. In the UK, schools are divided into three terms instead of the four terms typical in South Africa.
Certifications And Credentials
The GCSEs (or International GCSEs) and A-Levels are the two school credentials students in senior high school in England acquire. Then, applications for college or university are made using this curriculum from across the world.
Students do their GCSE or International GCSE coursework in years 10 and 11. They will start their AS or A-Level coursework in Year 12 if they decide to continue their studies. The two-year A-level program can be completed in two years without the AS Courses studied in Year 12. Nevertheless, students must complete Year 12 (AS) and Year 13 to acquire full A-Level qualifications (second year of overall A-Levels).
All South African students who finish grade 12 receive a National Senior Certificate (NSC). This is needed for admittance into universities and is frequently referred to as the A-Level equivalent certificate. A-Levels are a little more sophisticated than the National Senior Certificate in South Africa, it should be mentioned. Ensure that the school one is going to will recognize the NSC if one wishes to study in the UK. Some South African schools offer advanced credentials like the IGCSE, AS, and A-Levels.
How To Enter The UK
Researchers are an international crew that has lived in several countries, so it is understandable what it’s like to relocate. The unmatched knowledge has enabled us to develop relocation packages targeted toward families migrating to the UK with school-age children. Experts are here to help with the relocation more conveniently in every way.
When Will The Child Enter This Year?
State and independent schools in the United Kingdom are precise about what “Year” the child will be entering.
In contrast to South Africa, regardless of their level or ability, this is virtually entirely determined by their age.
The academic year in the UK begins in September and finishes in July (which is very different from our January-November school year).
One must know the child’s age on or before September 1 (the start of the school year) to determine what grade they will enter. The year they will be joining in September of the same calendar year can be calculated by subtracting four from their age.
Conclusion
Students born between the first of the year and the last day of August are significantly less likely to succeed in school because of the traditional age-grade relationship in South Africa (as they will likely be moving from, for example, the middle of Grade 5 to the beginning of Year 7).
