Education in Northern Ireland

1
Education in Northern Ireland
2
Stages of Education

• Crèche /Playgroup (0 3 years old)
• Nursery school (3-4 years old)
• Primary school ( 4 11 years old) P1 P7
• Secondary school (obligatory) (11 16 years old)
  1ST 5TH year
• Lower 6th/Upper 6th (Non-obligatory) (16 18
  years old)

3
Primary School p7 Examination

• In northern Ireland secondary schools are divided
  into two sectors. (Grammar and High schools)
• In the past before 2008 in p7 pupils who wanted
  to enter a grammar school had to sit an exam
  called the 11 (eleven plus) also known as the
  transfer test.
• To enter a grammar school the pupils needed to
  achieve an A or a B grade.
• It used to be that every pupil in Northern
  Ireland sat the same exam however now each
  secondary school has their own unofficial exam.

4
Secondary School

• In Northern Ireland at 11/12 years old you start
  secondary school.
• The grade you achieve in the entrance exams
  determines whether you go to a grammar or a high
  school.
• Grammar schools are stricter than high schools
  and the students have to study more subjects and
  at a higher level.
• You start off in first year and it is obligatory
  to study until you have completed fifth year (16
  years old.)

5
G.C.S.E Examinations

• In fourth year pupils start preparing for their
  G.C.S.E examinations that they take at the end of
  fifth year.
• If you dont work hard in fourth year you will
  have little chance of passing your exams in fifth
  year
• Students must study Maths, English and Science at
  G.C.S.E level and for the majority of basic jobs
  you need to have a minimum of a C grade in both
  English and Maths.
• The average student will study between 9 and 11
  subjects.

6
A Level

• If the student gets sufficient grades they can
  continue to study until they are 18.
• This is not obligatory and is usually only
  available in grammar schools
• Often pupils who have studied in high schools
  move to a grammar school to study further so they
  can go to study at university.

7
A Levels

• At the age of 18 you choose the subjects you wish
  to continue studying
• The student chooses three or four subjects
  depending on their ability
• You choose the subjects also to suit the course
  you want to study at university
• For example if you want to study medicine it is
  essential you study at least two sciences and
  maths
• These exams are a lot more difficult than
  G.C.S.E.S and require lots of preparation and
  independent work
• The teacher does not help you as much as in
  G.C.S.E
• You have free periods (classes) which you use to
  study

8
Official Exams

• Both G.C.E.S and A-levels are taken very
  seriously
• They are external exams. Therefore the teacher
  has no control over the mark you get.
• You are given an anonymous code and after you sit
  the exam your exam paper is given to an external
  exam board who corrects it and gives you your
  final mark
• You sit the exam in May/June and all students
  from Northern Ireland/England/Scotland and Wales
  receive their grades on the same day in late
  August.
• Those who have done A-levels find out also on
  this day which university they have been accepted
  into.

9
Technical Colleges

• If you do not pass your exams while in school you
  cannot repeat them in the school unless you have
  special circumstances. (i.e. Someone has died, in
  some cases pregnancy)
• However usually you have to go to a technical
  college to re-sit(repeat) your exams
• You have to pay for these courses and they are
  not cheap
• If you want to peruse a vocational career such as
  plumbing, hairdressing, an electrician, beauty
  therapy or looking after children you also have
  to attend one of these colleges.

10
SCHOOL UNIFORMS

• In all private and public primary and secondary
  schools in Northern Ireland it is obligatory to
  wear a school uniform.
• Each uniform is unique to the school.
• This is so it is easy to identify to which school
  a pupil belongs to

11
Boys
SCHOOL TIE
SHIRT
TROUSERS
BLAZER
BLACK SHOES
12
Girls
SCHOOL TIE
SHIRT
SKIRT
BLAZER
SCHOOL SOCKS
SCHOOL SHOES
SCHOOL JUMPER
13
Discipline
Books X
Homework
Co-operation X
Uniform
Punctuality X

• The schools in Northern Ireland are very strict
• Each pupil has a homework diary which they must
  use to keep a record of any homework
• In this diary there is a set of the school rules
  at the front
• At the beginning of every week on the page there
  is a table
• If you forget a book the teacher will give you an
  X
• If you have three xs for the same thing in one
  week or 5 in total you get a detention

14
Friday Detention

• Normally on a Friday schools finish early however
  if you have done something wrong you are made to
  stay behind for one hour and forty-five minutes
  and write out the school rules until half four in
  the afternoon.
• A letter is sent home to your parents to inform
  them
• If you dont go you have to stay behind two
  Fridays etc.

15
MY OLD SECONDARYSCHOOL
16
The school day

• In the school day you have around 9 classes which
  each last 35 minutes
• You have registration at 8.45 with your tutor who
  checks your uniform and your diary for any
  negatives (merits)
• Classes begin at around 9 and at around 10 you
  have a short break
• Lunch is around half 12 and you are not permitted
  to leave the school
• The school day usually finishes at around half
  three and most schools finish at half 2 or 3 on a
  friday

17
Teachers
Mrs. Jones

• In schools in Northern Ireland you would never
  call a teacher by his / her first name it is seen
  as a sign of disrespect.
• Married female teachers are called Mrs. Young,
  female unmarried teachers are called miss and
  those who are older or who have been divorced are
  called Ms. And male teachers are called Mr.
• For those teachers who have a PHD (A doctorate)
  are called Dr.

Mr. Black
Miss Barnes
18
THE TEACHERS
19
MY CLASS
20
End of year school formal

• At the end of upper 6th (The last year of
  secondary school) there is a big party organised
  by the students
• The girls hire or buy a dress and the boys wear
  suits and you go to a hotel for dinner and
  afterwards you rent out a disco for the after
  party
• The majority of people go in a limousine or a
  hummer
• You go with a date
• It is like a miniature wedding and takes much
  preparation and is very exciting

21
(No Transcript)
22
Thank you for listening!