Primary Education in the United Kingdom

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In Great Britain children start going to school by age five. The Local Authorities are responsible for providing a school place for every child after its fifth birthday. This means that actually children should begin their school life with the start of the term in which they will have their fifth birthday. However, most schools take children only once a year at the beginning of the school year on the 1st of September. Therefore, all pupils will be admitted to school who turn five in the following school year.

There are two kinds of primary schools in the United Kingdom:
Infant schools look after and teach children from five to seven, whereas junior schools take care of children between seven and eleven. Combined infant and junior schools are also common throughout the UK.
In some parts of England first schools are in charge for primary education. Pupils attend first school from five to ten, go to middle school between eight and 14  (age range varies) and finally attend a comprehensive upper school. After finishing Key Stage 1 (year 1 and 2) the pupils sit their first tests - KS 1 National Curriculum Tests (England only). At the end of their Primary Education (year 6) British children have to take their KS 2 National Curriculum Tests in core subjects but not in foundation subjects before they go over into Secondary Education.
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