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Each of the regions and countries that makes up the United Kingdom has
control over its own educational arrangements and the curriculum taught in each
area is different.
The curriculum in schools is set by:
England, Wales and N. Ireland all do GCSEs and A-levels together.
Scotland does Standard Grades and Highers.
1. England has a statutory National Curriculum which 99% of
schools follow. For details click
here.
2. Scotland does not have a National Curriculum as such but instead
has the "5-14 Guidelines" which are advisory, rather than statutory. Details
are at
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/5to14/guidelines/index.asp
The subjects are
English language
Environmental Studies - Society, Science and Technology
Expressive Arts (drama, music, art & design, PE)
Gaelic
Gàidhlig (which according to the Gaelic dictionary is "the
language of the Gaels".
HHM is not sure of the status of the subject or how widely
spread it is.)
Health Education
Information and Communications Technology
Latin
Mathematics
Modern Languages
Personal and Social Development
Religious and Moral Education
Religious Education - Roman Catholic Schools
3. N. Ireland also has a statutory curriculum for children aged
4 to 16. Details can be found here.
Information on development and change of the National Curriculum in Northern
Ireland can be found here.
Reforms were announced in June 2004 to the N. Ireland curriculum
to be implemented over the next few years. For more information please
click here
4. Wales has a statutory system. The subjects taught in the
National Curriculum are
English
Welsh
Modern Foreign Languages
Mathematics
Science
Information Technology
Design and Technology
History
Geography
Art
Music
Physical Education
Religious Education
In addition there are requirements for
Sex Education
Personal and Social Education
Careers Education and Guidance
Work-Related Education
Uniquely within the UK, schools in Wales are allocated a language in which they
teach. Welsh medium schools teach subjects such as history and geography
through the medium of Welsh. In some rural areas where it is not viable to have
a Welsh medium and an English medium school there are joint medium schools, but
in all urban areas (including cities such as Cardiff which is 99% English
speaking) there are Welsh medium schools.
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