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With a system that is unique to the UK and every school promising you the same bright things, making an astute decision on which high school your child should attend can be very overwhelming. At Echos we strive to lift that weight off of your shoulders and make the deciding process stress free. With advice carefully tailored to each individual student we guarantee to find the right match for your child in a sea of potential prospects.
Our approach to our students is very personalised. We make sure the school we propose to you is not just a good educational facility, but also a safe place that will meet your child's social and emotional needs. With every student striving to do their best, our job is to steer them in the right direction.
After we determine the schools that are ideal for you, the following stages will be preparatory. From mock exams to interview preparations, Echos will be alongside you through it all. With an ever increasing number of successful applications, our understanding of entry examinations and what they ask for is unparalleled and we are sure to offer you advice that will make you stand out.
Once we know which school your child is to attend, we will move on to the accommodation stage where we will find the best possible placement for the student to stay in. You can find out more about that in our accommodations page. For information on visa assistance please visit the visa page.
Choosing the right city to study in can have a significant impact on your learning experience. Whether you prefer the vibrant city life of London, the rich academic history of Oxford or Cambridge (we see you dark academia lovers), or the coastal tranquillity of a smaller town (just try to not dream of Manderley), there is sure to be an option to feed all your whims and aspirations.
Different cities offer varied cultural, social, and academic environments. Smaller towns will allow you more direct contact with the local population, while the bigger cities will provide you with more opportunities to explore the rich history of the country. Regardless of what environment you gravitate towards, we will narrow down a list of destinations and guide you towards the one that is the right match for you.
Behind every exciting opportunity lurks a less exciting technical aspect of considering your travelling and finances. But don't you worry, that's why we are here! We will help you consider factors like cost of living, lifestyle, and proximity to universities or professional networks to ensure that you find the perfect fit and don't lose your sanity along the way.
Understanding the UK education system may not seem easy at first, but once you have a grasp of the Key Stages (KS), the rest will fall into place naturally.
Consisting of 5 stages, KS1 and KS2 are generally known as the primary school years, KS3 and KS4 as secondary school, and KS5 as sixth form.
| Key Stages | School Years | Age Range | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| KS1 | Year 1 - 2 | 5 - 7 years old | Phonics Screening Check, Teacher-Led Assessments, Reading, Writing, Maths, Science |
| KS2 | Year 3 - 6 | 7 - 11 years old | Key Stage 2 SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) in English and Maths, Teacher Assessments |
| KS3 | Year 7 - 9 | 11 - 14 years old | Teacher-Led Assessments, Progress Tests (internal assessments) |
| KS4 | Year 10 - 11 | 14 - 16 years old | General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams in various subjects, including English, Maths, and Science, Other GCSE or equivalent qualifications, Teacher-Led Assessments |
| KS5 | Years 12 to 13 | 16 - 18 years old | A-Levels (Advanced Levels); BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) Qualifications; Other Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) including Cambridge Technicals; IBs (International Baccalaureate) |
There are some requirements students must meet to be able to pursue this option:
Students are allowed to leave school from the last Friday of June if they'll be 16 by the end of the holidays, however, they must do one of the following until they turn 18:
If the student makes the decision to stay in school, they will begin their Key Stage 5, also known as the sixth form or college. During this period students will take classes that will prepare them for university admissions or direct employment. Popular assessment types at this stage are A Levels and IBs.
Many find it difficult to agree on which one of these two systems offer the highest level of education for students. To prevent any hurt feelings on either side, we have (lovingly) compiled a table comparing what the two have to offer.
There is no conclusive winner here, with the most glaring difference being their approach to teaching. While A levels prefers focusing on the select few subjects that students pick at the end of their secondary school, IB chooses to continue teaching a wider range of subjects.
The general consensus on which one to pick relies heavily on the needs of each individual student:
When it comes to what the universities prefer, there doesn't seem to be a clear preference for one over the other. Both have their strength and rely on dedication and hard work, which is where institutions tend to place the most value in.