Education in Scotland differs from the system used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Traditionally, the English, Welsh and Northern Irish system has emphasised depth of education whereas the Scottish system has emphasised breadth. Thus English, Welsh and Northern Irish students tend to sit a small number of more advanced examinations and Scottish students tend to sit a larger number of less advanced examinations.

School years

• Nursery School
  • Year 1, age 3 - 5.
• Primary School
  • Primary 1, age range 4 - 6.
  • Primary 2, age range 5 - 7.
  • Primary 3, age range 6 - 8.
  • Primary 4, age range 7 - 9.
  • Primary 5, age range 8 - 10.
  • Primary 6, age range 9 - 11.
  • Primary 7, age range 10 - 12.
• Secondary School
  • Secondary 1 (a.k.a. First Year), age range 11 - 13.
  • Secondary 2 (a.k.a. Second Year), age range 12 - 14.
  • Secondary 3 (a.k.a. Third Year), age range 13 - 15.
  • Secondary 4 (a.k.a. Fourth Year), age range 14 - 16.
  • Secondary 5 (a.k.a. Fifth Year), age range 15 - 17.
  • Secondary 6 (a.k.a. Sixth Year), age range 16 - 18.

Note that the age ranges specify the youngest age for a child entering that year and the oldest age for a child leaving that year. Children may start attending nursery as soon as they have passed their third birthday, and progress to Primary 1 in the august of the (February to February) year in which they turn five. Some local councils allow parents of children with birthdays in January and February to defer entry into Primary 1 for a year. Also note that children may leave school at the end of any school year after they reach 16 years of age and that they may attend Scottish universities directly after receiving their Higher results -- potentially at the age of 16½. Therefore two sets of national examinations are held. The first set, the Standard Grade examinations, take place in the Fourth year of secondary school and show basic education level. The second set, the Higher examinations take place in the Fifth and Sixth years. A third level, Advanced Higher, replaced the old Certificate of Sixth Year Studies in 2001. It is sometimes taken by students intending to study at an English university, and traditionally gave students holding a relevant C.S.Y.S. the right to pass straight into second year at a Scottish university, although this has become less common as numbers of students attending university have risen.

See also

• Education in England
• Education in Northern Ireland
• Education in Wales

• Education in the United Kingdom
• Education by country