Primary School in UK
The primary stage covers three age ranges: nursery (under 5), infant (5 to 7 or 8)(Key Stage 1) and junior (up to 11 or 12) (Key Stage 2) but in Scotland and Northern
Ireland there is generally no distinction between infant and junior schools. In Wales,
although the types of school are the same, the Foundation Phase has brought
together what was previously known as the Early Years (from 3 to 5-year-olds) and
Key Stage 1 (from 5 to 7-year-olds) of the National Curriculum to create one phase of
education for children aged between three and seven. In England, primary schools
generally cater for 4-11 year olds. Some primary schools may have a nursery or a
children’s centre attached to cater for younger children. Most public sector primary
schools take both boys and girls in mixed classes. It is usual to transfer straight to
secondary school at age 11 (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or 12 (in
Scotland), but in England some children make the transition via middle schools
catering for various age ranges between 8 and 14. Depending on their individual age
ranges middle schools are classified as either primary or secondary.
The major goals of primary education are achieving basic literacy and numeracy
amongst all pupils, as well as establishing foundations in science, mathematics and
other subjects. Children in England and Northern Ireland are assessed at the end of
Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. In Wales, all learners in their final year of Foundation
Phase and Key Stage 2 must be assessed through teacher assessments.
