Secondary School

A secondary school is a school which provides secondary education, between the ages of 11 and 16 or 11 and 18, after primary school and before higher education.

Africa

Nigeria

In Nigeria, secondary school is for children from ages 10 to 18. Secondary education is divided into two parts: the junior and senior secondary education. The junior secondary education is pre-vocational and academic in scope. Most courses are compulsory, except religious and language courses (electives). For students to continue into senior secondary school, they have to making passing grades in the Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations. In senior secondary school, students are allowed to choose which areas to concentrate on, be it science, arts, commerce, or technical studies. All students have to sit for a Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE). There are two of this: the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council SSCE. Students must pass this before being admitted into any university.

Somalia

in Somalia, secondary school starts from form 9 and ends in form 12. Students start it when they are 14â€"15 and finish it when they are 18. Students will need to study Somali, Arabic, English or Italian depending on the type of school, Religion, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physical Education, Textiles, Art and Design and occasionally Music. When they finish secondary school, they are sent to national training camp before going to either college to train as a primary teacher, joining the army or starting university to attain a degree. Pupils' age can sometimes vary as students may require to repeat a previous year if they had not achieved their required grade or may skip a year if their level of achievement is higher than predicted. Some boys might wait until the age of 14-15. As a tradition, girls didn't really go to school, except going in the morning for religious studies. A girl's duty was to learn the housework for when they get older.

Asia

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh secondary school is called high school from classes 8 to 10. After this the students sit for their Secondary School Certificate. They then take admission to 'college', which is the name for senior secondary consisting of classes 11 and 12. Apart from that, in the Cambridge system, standard 1 to standard 4 is the junior section, standard 5 to 7 are the junior secondary section and from standard 8 to 10 is the beginning of high school. Students sit for their O' level and A' Level Examinations before applying for Universities.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong the government provides a twelve-year compulsory education to students in the territory. Students are promoted to secondary schools after finishing their primary school education. Until the 2008-2009 school year secondary schools had seven grades (Form/Secondary 1-7), but starting from school year 2009â€"2010 the 3â€"3â€"4 scheme is in operation; Form 4â€"6 has become Senior Secondary 1â€"3, Form 7 has been eliminated, and universities provide four years of education instead of three.

India

In India, high school is a grade of education from Standards IX to X. Standards IX and X are also called Secondary School. Usually, students from ages 14 to 17 study in this section. These schools may be affiliated to national boards (like CBSE, ISC, and NIOS) or various state boards. Education is compulsory until age 14. Although most are stand-alone day schools, some popular schools are residential. Traditional second stage in formal education, typically beginning at ages 14â€"16 and ending at 16â€"18.

Japan

Malaysia

Secondary school in Malaysia is considered as high school. Students attend secondary school in the age of 13 and usually graduated on 17. There is an optional form(Form 6) for the Pre-University.

The Form 1 until Form 3 students are lower secondary students, while Form 4 until Form 6 are upper secondary students. There are two major exams in the secondary school, firstly is PMR(Penilaian Menengah Rendah or Lower Secondary Assessment), although it is abolished now and replaced with PT3 (Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3) for the 3rd Former and SPM(Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or Malaysian Certificate of Education) for the 5th Former. The PT3 consists eight compulsive subjects such as Malay Language, English Language, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Living Skills and Islamic Education(for Muslim students only). While for the SPM, there are six compulsive subjects; same like the subjects taken in PMR except Living Skills and Geography(those subjects are turn to be the elective subjects). There are six sections of elective subjects, such as;

• Social Science and Religion
• Information Technology
• Arts and Health
• Technical and Vocational
• Language and Literature

Pakistan

In Pakistan secondary school is called high school from classes 9 to 10. After successful completion the students receive Secondary School Certificate. They then take admission to the Junior college, which is the name for senior secondary consisting of classes 11 and 12.

Singapore

In Singapore, Singaporeans aged between 13 to 17 are required to attend secondary school after taking the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) at the end of primary education. The examination determines whether the student is ready to leave primary school by passing; places in secondary schools are allocated according to students' performance in the examination. The performance of the examination also determines which track or stream students end up in. The four different tracks or streams are: "Special", "Express", "Normal (Academic)", or "Normal (Technical)".

Europe

Ireland

In Ireland secondary schools go from first year to sixth year, with the typical student age being between 12 and 18. It is split into two cycles, the Junior Cycle a three year course with the Junior Certificate taking place at the end of third year and the Senior Cycle a two to three year course with the Leaving Certificate taking place at the end of the sixth year. Fourth year, also known as Transition Year, is optional, but is included as part of the senior cycle. The majority of secondary schools no longer allow their students to skip this year. Subjects vary slightly between the two certificates however English, Irish and Maths are mandatory in both (with the exception of Irish in certain situations) these three subjects are offered at Higher, Ordinary and Foundation Level (except Leaving Certificate English). Other subjects are only offered at Higher or Ordinary Level with the exception of Junior Certificate subject Civic, Social and Political Education which is Common Level. Education is mandatory up until the age of 16 or until the Junior Certificate has been sat. The majority of secondary schools also require students to wear school uniforms and in some cases a Physical-Education uniform as well. Secondary schools are sometimes called "college", e.g. Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare.

Italy

In Italy education is organized into 3 levels:

• scuola primaria or primary school (commonly called scuola elementare, age 6 to 11)
• scuola secondaria di primo grado or lower secondary school (commonly called scuola media, age 11 to 14)
• scuola secondaria di secondo grado or upper secondary school (commonly called scuola superiore, age 14 to 19).

Moldova

In Moldova education is organized in 3 levels:

• primary school (1st to 4th grade, age 6 to 11)
• lower secondary school (5th to 9th grade, age 10 to 16)
• upper secondary school (10th to 12th grade, age 15 to 19).

United Kingdom

England and Wales

In England and Wales, secondary school is for children from the ages of 11 to 16 or 11 to 18. Secondary school incorporates Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum (Year Seven to Year Eleven). After Year 11, they may leave school but must stay in some form of education until they are in the equivalent of Year 13/Upper Sixth. This could involve doing A-Levels or BTECS at a sixth form college, vocational diplomas at college or an apprenticeship. The last year group that could leave compulsory education after Year 11 was the Year 11 class of 2012. (Started Reception/Foundation Year in 2000.)

Curriculum

The "Core Curriculum" is the compulsory secondary curriculum for Key Stage 3 and 4 years/Forms 7-11/1-5.

• English
• Mathematics
• Science (This may be taught as three separate sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
• Modern Foreign Language is now compulsory for Key Stage 3 children. Common languages include French, German, Spanish, or Italian

GCSEs must be taken in all of these subjects.

Also compulsory until Year 11/ Form 5 are:

• ICT
• Citizenship
• Personal Social Health Education (P.S.H.E)
• Religious Studies (R.S.) or Religious Education (R.E.)
• Physical Education (P.E.)
• Sex Education (S.E.) (compulsory for Year 7 but optional for years 8â€"11. No GCSE available. This is usually taught compulsory to year 9 in areas of high teenage pregnancy). This may be taught as part of P.S.H.E. and Biology.

Examinations in these subjects are not compulsory, but a full or short-course GCSE may be sat if the student wishes. In some schools (mainly independent schools or high-achieving selective state secondaries) examinations in some of these subjects are school policy.

'Key Stage 3' Year 7-8/ Form 1-3 Curriculum

The "Core Curriculum" plus the other Key Foundation subjects

• Art and Design
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• Geography
• History
• Other MFLs (Polish, Welsh (the school will decide, if at all))
• Music

Scotland

As the term High School originated in Edinburgh, Scotland, this is the most common phrase used when referring to the second tier of education in the country. Scotland has a long history of universal provision of public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from the other countries of the United Kingdom. The Scotland Act 1998 gives Scottish Parliament legislative control over all education matters, and the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 is the principal legislation governing education in Scotland.

Traditionally, the Scottish system at secondary school level has emphasized breadth across a range of subjects, while the English, Welsh and Northern Irish systems have emphasised greater depth of education over a smaller range of subjects. In Scotland secondary school is for children from the ages of 11 to 18, compulsory up to the age of 16.

The majority of state schools are non-denominational, but as a result of the Education Act 1918, separate denominational state schools were also established. The vast majority of denominational state schools are Roman Catholic but there are also a number of Scottish Episcopal schools. The school buildings are built and maintained by the Roman Catholic Church were handed over to the state under the Education Act. Since then, the Catholic schools are fully funded by the Scottish Government and administered by the Learning Directorate. As part of the deal, there are specific legal provisions to ensure the promotion of a Catholic ethos in such schools: applicants for positions in the areas of Religious Education, Guidance or Senior Management must be approved by the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, which also appoints a chaplain to each of its schools.

Qualifications at the secondary school and post-secondary (further education) level are provided by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, which is the national awarding and accrediting body in Scotland, and delivered through various schools, colleges and other centres. Political responsibility for education at all levels is vested in the Scottish Parliament and the Learning Directorate.

Malta

In Malta, secondary schools are also called Junior Lyceums, obliged education is organized in 2 levels:

• Primary schools (year 1-6, age 6 - 11)
• Secondary schools (form 1-5, age 11-16)

When a student finishes form 5, he/she can do the O-levels, a student may choose not to do them. If they pass they will spend 2 years in 6th form which is NOT an obliged level of education but needed to have a job. After 2 years in 6th form a student may do his/her A-levels and Intermediates. A-levels are harder than Intermediates but a student needs both to go to the next level of education which is university.

Middle East

In Saudi Arabia, Syria and Kuwait, secondary school includes grade 10 through 12.

America

United States

In the United States, the term can refer to two types of school. The first type is the same as a high school (grades 9â€"12), while the second type refers to an alternative school which is sometimes called a secondary school. In some jurisdictions "secondary school" may refer to an institution that houses grades 7â€"12, or both middle school and high school years, for example "Robinson Secondary School" in Fairfax, Virginia.

Canada

In Canada secondary schools (also known as High schools) are educational institutions usually consisting of students enrolled in grades nine through twelve (ages fourteen to eighteen), although variations and subdivisions of this structure are fairly common. In Quebec, school years are known as Secondary 1 through to Secondary 5 (grades 7â€"11).

Argentina

In Argentina, secondary education is divided into two. The basic secondary education and high secondary school. The education is compulsory. Some schools require entrance exam. Students comprise between 12 and 18 years old.

Brazil

In Brazil, admission to secondary school requires the student to achieve a specific grade in primary school (normally 6 on grades from 0 to 10). Secondary School is the same as High School plus second Fundamental Year in all Brazilian states, and is normally attended by 10- to 18-year-old students.

México

In México "secondary school" refer to educational institutions usually consisting of students enrolled in grades 7 through 9 (ages 12 to 15 years old). Some schools require an entrance exam.

Oceania

Australia

In Australia, secondary school is called high school, from Year 7 to Year 12 in every state but , South Australia, and Western Australia, where high school is started in Year 8. In both Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, high school constitutes Years 7 to 10 with college (senior secondary) consisting of Year 11 and 12.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, secondary school is often called college or high school. The majority of secondary schools run from Year 9 to Year 13 (formerly known as Forms 3 to 7) with students aged 12½ to 18½; in some areas, including Invercargill and most of the Southland Region, secondary school starts at Year 7 (formerly Form 1) with students aged from 10½.

See also

• List of schools by country

References