The UK school system is divided into Key Stages. Early Years covers ages 3 to 5, Key Stage 1 covers Years 1 and 2 (ages 5 to 7), Key Stage 2 covers Years 3 to 6 (ages 7 to 11), Key Stage 3 covers Years 7 to 9 (ages 11 to 14), Key Stage 4 covers Years 10 and 11 (ages 14 to 16, when GCSEs are taken), and Key Stage 5 covers Years 12 and 13 (ages 16 to 18, when A-levels or equivalents are taken).

Children start Reception the September after they turn 4, then move up one year group each September: Year 1 (age 5 to 6), Year 2 (6 to 7), and so on to Year 6 (10 to 11) at the end of primary. Secondary runs Year 7 (11 to 12) to Year 11 (15 to 16, GCSEs), then sixth form is Year 12 and Year 13 (16 to 18, A-levels or equivalents).

A primary school covers the whole of Reception to Year 6 in one place. In some areas this is split instead into an infant school (Reception to Year 2) and a junior school (Years 3 to 6), so your child moves between two schools. Both routes cover the same national curriculum.

The national curriculum is the set of subjects and standards that state-maintained schools in England must teach, so children learn broadly the same things at each stage. Academies, free schools and independent schools have more freedom to vary it, but most stay close to it.

Your child can start Reception in the September following their fourth birthday. School becomes compulsory a little later, from the term after they turn 5, but almost all families take the Reception place. You apply the year before, through your local authority.

It is a short, informal, activity-based check done one-to-one in the first few weeks of Reception. It is only a starting point for measuring the school’s progress over time, not a test your child passes or fails, and nothing needs to be revised or prepared for it.

School readiness is far more about independence and confidence than academics. Can they use the toilet, put on a coat, listen to an adult, share, and separate from you calmly? Those matter more than reading or writing. A love of stories and curiosity is the best head start.

For most of England the national closing date is 31 October for secondary school and 15 January for primary, in the year before your child would start. Offers are then sent on 1 March (secondary) and 16 April (primary). Local dates can vary slightly, so always confirm with your own local authority.

You list your preferred schools in order, and places are offered against each school’s published admission criteria, typically things like looked-after children, siblings already at the school, distance or catchment, and sometimes faith. You are offered the highest preference you qualify for, so ranking honestly is important.

Yes. You have a legal right to appeal to an independent panel, and you can ask to go on the waiting list at the same time. Appeals are worth doing where you have a genuine case, and the school or local authority will explain the process and deadline.

A catchment is the area a school gives priority to. For popular, oversubscribed schools, distance from the school often becomes the deciding factor, and the catchment can effectively shrink in a busy year. Never assume living nearby guarantees a place, check recent distance data.

11+ is a selective entrance exam sat in Year 6 for grammar schools and some independent schools. It usually tests English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, set by boards such as GL Assessment or CEM. Preparation works best when it is little and often from Year 4 or 5, focused on the specific exam format your target schools use. Our free exam guides explain exactly what each board tests and what to check.

GL Assessment and CEM were the two main 11+ boards for grammar schools, with CEM now largely folded into GL. ISEB Pre-Tests are used mainly by independent senior schools. The formats and question styles differ, so prepare for the specific board your target schools actually use.

Yes, many children do. Consistent preparation at home from Year 4 or 5, using the right materials for your target board and plenty of timed past-paper practice, is what makes the difference. A tutor can help, but it is the steady routine, not the tutor, that matters most.

CAT4 is a cognitive ability test that many schools use internally to understand a child’s potential across verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning. It is not something you pass or fail and is usually not revised for. 11+ is a competitive entrance exam used to allocate selective school places. CAT4 measures ability; 11+ decides admission.

13+ Common Entrance is a set of subject exams written by ISEB and sat in Year 8, used for entry to independent senior schools. It is usually a confirmation step after a conditional offer made via the ISEB Pre-Tests, and each senior school sets and marks its own pass mark.

SATs are national tests taken in Year 6. They are used mainly to measure how well the school is doing, not to decide your child’s secondary school, so they carry far less weight than parents often fear. Support your child calmly and keep them in perspective.

Most students take around 8 to 10 GCSEs, including the core of English language, English literature, maths and science. The rest are chosen options. Quality and the right subjects for their next step matter more than sheer number.

A-levels are exam-based subjects, usually three, studied in depth. BTECs are practical, coursework-heavy vocational qualifications in a specific field. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a broader diploma across six subjects plus core elements. All three can lead to university, so the best choice depends on how your child learns and what they want next.

UCAS is the online system for applying to UK universities. In Year 13, students apply through it using their predicted grades and a personal statement, choosing up to five courses. Universities then make offers, usually conditional on final grades, and the student firms up a first and back-up choice.

In England, young people must stay in education or training until 18. The routes are sixth form or college (A-levels, BTECs or T-levels), an apprenticeship that combines work and study, or other training. Each keeps different doors open, so match it to your child’s strengths and goals.

Clearing, mainly in August around results day, matches students who do not yet have a confirmed university place to courses that still have spaces. It is a normal, well-trodden route, not a last resort, and universities have advisers on the phone to help.

Guide, do not do it for them. Help your child understand what the task is asking, get them started, then step back so the work stays theirs. Little and often, in a calm spot, beats one long battle, and it is fine to tell the teacher if something is consistently too hard.

Read together every day, even for a few minutes, and talk about what you read. Let them choose books they enjoy, including comics and non-fiction, and keep it pressure-free. Being read to, and seeing you read, does as much for a child as decoding practice.

BBC Bitesize, Oak National Academy and your local library are reliable, free starting points that follow the curriculum. They are excellent for facts and revision; pairing them with a simple plan gives the structure that free sites on their own can lack.

Private tutors in the UK typically charge between £30 and £250 an hour depending on subject, experience and location, with exam specialists and London tutors at the higher end. A good tutor can be well worth it for sustained or specialist help. For everyday support, School Ready Guide lets you create tailored, curriculum-aligned sessions at home. If you do choose a private tutor, our guides help you know what to look for.

Not necessarily. Consistent support at home, using the right materials and understanding how each exam and Key Stage works, makes a big difference on its own. School Ready Guide gives parents that understanding in plain English, plus free planners and affordable tools. And if you decide a private tutor would help, our guides explain what to look for so you can choose what fits your family and budget.

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document for children with significant additional needs. It sets out the support the child must receive and is assessed and issued by your local authority. Many children get effective support at school without ever needing one.

The SENCo is the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator at your child’s school, the person who arranges and coordinates extra support. If you have any concern about your child’s progress or wellbeing, ask the class teacher first, then to speak with the SENCo.

Start with your child’s class teacher and the school SENCo, who can put support in place without waiting for a formal diagnosis. Your GP and your local authority’s SEND information service (often called SENDIASS) can also give free, impartial advice. Trust your instinct and ask early.

Yes, and we are open about it. We use AI as a tool: to help organise information, draft plain-English explanations, and power helpers like our school-letter explainer, practice generator and home-learning planner. A person reviews and approves our content before it reaches you, and any AI-created images or written content are human-edited and approved. AI never makes decisions about your child. Our AI helpers also clearly flag that their output can make mistakes, so you should always check anything important with your child’s school. We believe transparency builds trust.