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How Is Education Different in Scotland from England?
- How Is Education Different in Scotland from England?
- Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), Primary, and Secondary Education
- Curriculum and Policy
- Educational Levels
- Qualifying Examinations
- Universities
- Postgraduate Studies
- Most Popular Postgraduate Studies Courses
- Popular Schools in Scotland
- Primary Schools
- Secondary Schools
- Universities
- Popular Schools in England
- Primary Schools
- Secondary Schools
- Universities
Home to several renowned educational institutions, having your child study in either Scotland or England is a great investment for their future.
For those still caught in a dilemma between these two options, today is your lucky day as we’re about to help you decide! Here’s a comprehensive guide on how education is different in Scotland from England.
How Is Education Different in Scotland from England?
Scotland and England have quite different approaches to education, from curriculum to qualifying examinations. Hence, it’s vital to understand their differences and similarities to make an informed decision.
The table below summarises the key differences between the two:
| Scotland | England | |
| Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), Primary, and Secondary Education | ||
| Curriculum and Policy | Scotland follows the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), which employs a holistic approach. | England follows the National Curriculum, which employs a specialised approach. |
| Educational Levels | Both use similar systems, formally starting at Primary Early Level 1 in Scotland and Year 1 in England. English parents may opt to enroll their child at Reception, which is an introduction to formal schooling. | |
| For students’ later years, it’s not compulsory for Scottish students to take Secondary Levels 5 and 6. | For students’ later years, it’s compulsory for English students to take Years 12 and 13. | |
| Qualifying Examinations | Scotland has a bit more compulsory tests, namely: SNSAs, Nationals, Highers, and Advanced Highers. | England only has GCSEs and A-levels |
| University and College Education | ||
| Number of universities | 19 | 160 |
| Length | 4 years | 3 years |
| Course structure | Flexible | Specialised |
| Tuition Fees | Around £10,000 to £36,000 annually | |
| Government coverage | Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) | None |
| Post-Graduate Studies | ||
| Tuition Fees | Around £5,000 to over £30,000 yearly |
Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), Primary, and Secondary Education
Curriculum and Policy
| SCOTLAND | ENGLAND | |
| Curriculum | Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) | National Curriculum |
| Approach | Holistic | Specialised |
Scotland follows the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), which is a more holistic approach to education.
Students are given a broad range of subjects to undertake, from Arts to Sciences, as they aren’t expected to choose a specialisation until much later.
Schools are also given the liberty to make decisions based on their students’ needs and interests without the interference of a prescriptive curriculum.
Meanwhile, England follows the National Curriculum, which takes a more specialised approach to education.
There are prescribed subjects and timings that students are required to follow. Students’ options for subjects to take are much narrower as they’re required to select classes that align with their chosen career path.
Educational Levels
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Since Scottish children begin school between 4 to 5 and English children between 3 to 5, it’s a bit tricky to decipher the exact equivalent of each educational level.
Hence, the following table shows an approximate equivalent:
| SCOTLAND’S SYSTEM | ENGLAND’S SYSTEM | ||
| Reception or Early Years Foundations Stage (EYFS)* | |||
| Primary School (P) | Primary 1 Early Level | Key Stage (KS) 1 | Year 1 |
| Primary 2 First Level | Year 2 | ||
| Primary 3 First Level | Key Stage (KS) 2 | Year 3 | |
| Primary 4 First Level | Year 4 | ||
| Primary 5 Second Level | Year 5 | ||
| Primary 6 Second Level | Year 6 | ||
| Primary 7 Second Level | Key Stage (KS) 3 | Year 7 | |
| Secondary School (S) | Secondary 1 | Year 8 | |
| Secondary 2 | Year 9 | ||
| Secondary 3 | Key Stage (KS) 4 | Year 10 | |
| Secondary 4 | Year 11 | ||
| Secondary 5* | Key Stage (KS) 5or College / Sixth Form | Year 12 | |
| Secondary 6* | Year 13 |
Note: Educational levels marked with an asterisk (*) are not compulsory.
The main differences between Scottish and English educational levels are: England’s Reception and mandatory final years, which are known as Key Stage 5 and 6 and equivalent to Scotland’s Secondary 5 and 6.
England’s Reception: Whilst quite similar at a first glance, the English system starts off earlier than Scotland’s. Reception or Early Years Foundations Stage (EYFS) is a child’s first formal introduction to school.
It’s comparable to Scotland’s Primary Early 1 as it mostly comprises play and light learning. However, it is not required for children to have finished Reception to take on Year 1.
Scotland’s Secondary 5 and 6 VS England’s Key Stage 5 and 6: The biggest difference between the two is that Scotland’s Secondary 5 and 6 aren’t compulsory.
England’s College or Sixth Form is mandatory as the subjects taught at this level are tailored to prepare each pupil for their GCSEs, A-levels, and desired course at university.
Qualifying Examinations
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The following table shows an approximate equivalent of Scotland and England’s qualifying examinations:
| SCOTLAND’S SYSTEM | ENGLAND’S SYSTEM |
| Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSAs) | |
| Nationals | GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) |
| Highers | A-levels (Advanced Levels) |
| Advanced Highers |
The main difference between the Scottish qualifying examinations and England’s is that the former requires students to take compulsory literacy and numeracy assessments once every school year.
Scottish Qualifying Examinations:
The Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSAs) were introduced in 2017 and are meant to be taken in P1, P4, P7, and S3.
Afterwards, they’re to study for the Nationals, from 1 to 5, whilst in S4. Students may sit as many Nat 5s as their school’s curriculum will allow.
After qualifying, pupils can undertake Highers in S5. The student’s goal is to garner enough points to qualify and begin university immediately.
However, most students opt to take Advanced Highers in S6, which is theoretically equivalent to a Scottish university’s first year. Though relatively rare, this could also qualify the student to begin to take up the second year of their chosen course.
English Qualifying Examinations:
GCSEs are what most English students consider the most important examination in their academic career before university. This is because the results of one’s GCSE is what universities look at to gauge a student’s abilities.
Afterward, A-levels are taken, which cover around 40 academic subjects which may have been in the GCSE. Studying is done right after Year 12 and usually spans about 2 years.
Universities
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| Scotland | England | |
| Number of universities | 19 | 160 |
| Length | 4 years | 3 years |
| Course structure | Flexible | Specialised |
| Tuition Fees | Around £10,000 to £36,000 annually | |
| Government coverage | Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) | None |
When it comes to the number of universities in each country, England definitely takes the cake at 160.
This is also attributed to the fact that England is greatly larger in size and population than Scotland, so it’s no surprise that they have more universities.
As for the length of completion, Scottish university courses typically take 4 years to finish. This is because the Scottish system takes on a flexible approach to learning.
English university courses are a tad shorter because they’re more specialised. In other words, pupils take on classes and modules that are directly related to their major.
When it comes to the cost of completing an undergraduate program, both Scotland and England have relatively similar fees.
The biggest difference is that the Scottish government or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) covers the undergraduate tuition fees of its “home students” or those residing in Scotland or from EU countries.
Because of this, Scotland is a popular choice for Swedish students as tuition fees remain free for EU students.
If you’re from the rest of the UK, you’re typically referred to as a “RUK”. In comparison to home students, RUK students’ tuition fees are a tad more expensive.
Meanwhile, if you’re an international student with a student visa, expect to spend more on international student fees, lodging fees, and the like.
In England, tuition is no longer free. Nevertheless, there are several pathways to ease the financial burden such as government loans.
Postgraduate Studies
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| Scotland | England |
| Around £5,000 to over £30,000 yearly |
The cost of postgraduate studies tuition fees will vary greatly on the course you’ll be taking and your university of choice. It’s not uncommon for certain programmes to be more expensive than others.
Similar to universities, the total cost of one’s postgraduate studies will depend on their nationality and status. Having said that, tuition fees for nationals are often less than for international students.
Most Popular Postgraduate Studies Courses
- Allied Medicine
- Education
- Business Management
- Social Sciences
- Law
When it comes to the most popular postgraduate studies courses in the UK, the most populated courses have a solid mix, from humanities to medicine-related.
Popular Schools in Scotland
If you’re looking for Scottish schools to enrol your child in, here are a few of Scotland’s most popular schools from primary to university level:
Primary Schools
St Bernadette’s Primary School
Website: https://st-bernadettes.lancs.sch.uk/
Address: Vickers St, Motherwell ML1 3RE, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 1698 274993
St Andrew’s Primary School
Website: http://st-andrews-primary.com/
Address: 71 Laggan Rd, Airdrie ML6 0LL, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 1236 632070
St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School
Website: https://stjosephsrcprimaryedinburgh.wordpress.com/
Address: 39 Saughton Rd, Edinburgh EH11 3RQ, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 131 443 4591
Prestonfield Primary School
Website: https://prestonfieldprimary.co.uk/
Address: 9 Peffermill Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5LJ, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 131 667 1336
Symington Primary School
Website: http://www.symington.sayr.sch.uk/
Address: 17 Brewlands Rd, Symington, Kilmarnock KA1 5QZ, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 1563 830389
Secondary Schools
Jordanhill School
Website: https://www.jordanhill.glasgow.sch.uk/
Address: 45 Chamberlain Rd, Glasgow G13 1SP, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 141 576 2500
Bearsden Academy
Website: http://www.bearsdenacademy.e-dunbarton.sch.uk/
Address: Stockiemuir Rd, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 3AX, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 141 955 2344
St Ninian’s High School
Website: https://eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/article/994/St-Ninian-s-High-School
Address: Rouken Glen Rd, Giffnock, Glasgow G46 6UG, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 141 577 2000
Cults Academy
Website: https://cults-academy.aberdeen.sch.uk/
Address: Quarry Rd, Cults, Aberdeen AB15 9TP, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 1224 868801
Williamwood High School
Website: https://eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/williamwood-high-school
Address: Eaglesham Rd, Clarkston, Glasgow G76 8RF, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 141 577 2500
Universities
University of Edinburgh
Website: https://www.ed.ac.uk/
Address: Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 131 650 1000
University of Glasgow
Website: https://www.gla.ac.uk/
Address: Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 141 330 2000
University of St Andrews
Website: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/
Address: St Andrews KY16 9AJ, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 1334 476161
University of Aberdeen
Website: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/
Address: King’s College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 1224 272000
University of Strathclyde
Website: https://www.strath.ac.uk/
Address: 16 Richmond St, Glasgow G1 1XQ, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 141 552 4400
Popular Schools in England
If you’re looking for English schools to enrol your child at, here are a few of England’s most popular schools from primary to university level:
Primary Schools
St Antony’s RC Primary School
Website: https://www.stantonyscatholicprimary.co.uk/
Address: Upton Ave, London E7 9PN, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 20 8552 3670
St. Stephen’s School and Children’s Centre
Website: https://www.st-stephens-primary.org.uk/
Address: Whitfield Rd, London E6 1AS, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 20 8472 7575
Mayflower Primary School
Website: https://www.mayflower.towerhamlets.sch.uk/
Address: Upper North St, London E14 6DU, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 20 7987 2782
St Anne’s RC Primary School
Website: https://www.st-annes.walsall.sch.uk/
Address: Blackwood Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 3PL
Contact Information: +44 12 1353 5114
Courtland School
Website: https://www.courtlandschool.org/
Address: Courtland Ave, London NW7 3BG, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 20 8959 3274
Secondary Schools
Queen Elizabeth’s School
Website: https://www.qebarnet.co.uk/
Address: Queens Rd, Barnet EN5 4DQ, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 20 8441 4646
Highbury Fields School
Website: https://www.highburyfields.islington.sch.uk/
Address: Highbury Hill, London N5 1AR, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 20 7288 1888
The Henrietta Barnett School
Website: https://www.hbschool.org.uk/
Address: Central Square, London NW11 7BN, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 20 8458 8999
The Tiffin Girls’ School
Website: https://www.tiffingirls.org/
Address: Richmond Rd, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5PL, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 20 8546 0773
Brighton College
Website: https://www.brightoncollege.org.uk/
Address: Eastern Rd, Brighton BN2 0AL, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 1273 704200
Universities
University of Oxford
Website: https://www.ox.ac.uk/
Address: Oxford OX1 2JD, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 1865 270000
University of Cambridge
Website: https://www.cam.ac.uk/
Address: The Old Schools, Trinity Ln, Cambridge CB2 1TN, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 1223 337733
Imperial College London
Website: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/
Address: Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2BX, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 20 7589 5111
University College London
Website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/
Address: Gower St, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 20 7679 2000
The University of Edinburgh
Website: https://www.ed.ac.uk/
Address: Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, United Kingdom
Contact Information: +44 131 650 1000
Those are the biggest differences in Scottish and English education systems in a nutshell, folks!
What else do you think sets these two countries’ education systems apart? Let us know!
