The British educational system's national curriculum aims to teach students to ensure uniform standards and a high level of competency are met with all subjects, in all schools. All students are taught core subjects, including English, maths, science, humanities and physical education, and from the age of 14 upwards, students are able to specialize in specific courses, such as information technology, modern languages and creative arts.
Children enter the British school system aged between four and five years and spend their first year in the Reception class. Schools are then generally organized into four developmental key stages. The first, Key Stage 1, for Years 1 and 2, cater for children aged between five and seven years. Key Stage 2, for Years 3 to 6, caters for children aged between seven and eleven years. Key Stage 3, for Years 7 to 9, caters for students aged between elven and fourteen. Key Stage 5, for Years 10 and 11, caters for students aged between fourteen and sixteen years. Students then enter Years 12 and 13 to study and take pre-university examinations.
'End of Key Stage' tests in English, maths and sciences are popular in many international schools as a benchmark for examining student performance at all ages.
On completion of Key Stage four, students take the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination, or equivalent international exams (IGCSE) in the core subjects, plus a selection of other curriculum choices, which usually total between nine and 12 subjects. In Year 13, students either sit the AS or A-Level exams, or the International Baccalaureate examination.
Extra-curricular activities are also an important component of the British education system and international schools, which adhere to the British curriculum, all host a variety of sports and other social interactive activities.
