Country File UNITED KINGDOM: The System of Education

The UK education system has five stages—Early Years, Primary, Secondary, Further, and Higher Education—with compulsory education from age 5 to 16, though some countries have slightly different starting ages. 

Although each of the four UK countries has some autonomy, the system is structured around Key Stages, with students transitioning from primary to secondary school and then potentially to further or higher education, culminating in qualifications like GCSEs and A-levels.  

Culture File UK: Afternoon Tea - A Very British Tradition

Tea remains one of the most popular beverages in the British Isles. Only introduced in the 17th century, it has since become the nation's staple. 

It is not only a hot drink, taken with milk and sugar, or pure; it is a tradition, a philosophy, a lifestyle. As a matter of fact, coffee has become well-loved over recent decades; even so, tea remains at the centre of everyday life in the UK.