UK Educational Terms Explained

UK term

Other terms meaning the same thing

Notes

Early years

Kindergarten (KG), Early childhood education, Nursery school, Pre-school

4 or 5 and younger. Kindergarten is ages 4/5

Foundation stage  (FS, FS1, FS2)

See early years 

4 or 5 and younger. FS1 is younger than FS2

Primary

Elementary

Approximately ages 4-11

Key stage 1  (KS1)

Early elementary

Approximately ages 5-8

Key stage 2 (KS2)

Upper elementary

Approximately ages 9-11

Secondary

Middle and high school

Approximately ages 12-18. Note there are very few international middle schools.

A level

Similar to Advanced Placement, IB diploma, Leaving Certificate

Tests taken at the end of high school/secondary school usually for university bound students

GCSE

IGCSE, O-level, Junior Certificate

Tests taken at 16 by UK and international students

Further education

Upper high school

Ages 16-18

Crèche, Nursery nurse

Daycare, nursery 

0-4

Head teacher

Principal

Primary or secondary

Deputy head teacher

Vice principal

Primary or secondary

Director of international school

Superintendent

Usually supervises several schools/campuses

TEFL

EFL, TESOL, ESOL, ESL

Any teaching English as a foreign language

MFL (modern foreign languages)

World languages

Primary or secondary

Qualified teacher status

Teacher certification

You are qualified to teach children in state schools in your home country

State school

Public school state-funded schools serving children, teaching all subjects

Note that in the UK, the term public school means private schools!