In Britain all children have to go to school between the ages of 5 and 16.
 

Subjects

In England and Wales the subjects taught in schools are laid down by the National Curriculum, which was introduced in 1988 and sets out in detail the subjects that children should study and the levels of  achievement they should reach by the ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16, when they are tested.  There are nine subjects for primary schools: Art, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Science, and Technology/Design.  For secondary schools, a 10th subject (a modern foreign language) is added.

The National Curriculum does not apply in Scotland, where each school decides what subjects it will teach.
 

Examinations

At 16 students in England and Wales take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations.  These examinations are taken by students of all levels of ability in any of a range of subjects, and may involve a final examination, an assessment of work done during the two year course, or both of these things.  At 18 some students take A-level examinations, usually in not more that 3 subjects.  It is necessary to have A-levels in order to go to a university or polytechnic.

In Scotland students take the SCE examinations.  A year later, they can take examinations called highers, after which they can either go straight to a university or spend a further year at school and take the Certificate of Sixth Year Studies.  In Scotland the university system is different to that in England and Wales.  Courses usually last four years rather than three, and students study a larger number of subjects as part of their degree.
 

Social Events and Ceremonies

In Britain, there are no formal dances or social occasions associated with school life.  Some schools have a speech day at the end of the school year when prizes are given to the best students and speeches are made by the head teacher and sometimes an invited guest.  However, in many British schools students and teachers organize informal dances for the older students.