Difference between Scottish, Welsh and English schools

Welsh
The Foundation Phase covers the age range 3 to 7. It combines non-compulsory early years education.
Education is compulsory from the school term following a child’s fifth birthday (beginning in September, January and April). However, admission authorities must provide for all children to join the reception class in primary school in the September following their fourth birthday. As a result, many children reach compulsory school age during the reception class.
Full-time education is compulsory from the term following a child’s fifth birthday until age 16, and parents are responsible for ensuring that their child receives education.

Welsh
Primary schools and secondary schools must teach pupils over the age of seven the national curriculum (Curriculum for Wales), which is divided into key stages as follows:
Key Stage 2 for pupils aged 7 to 11 – Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 in primary education (ISCED 1)
Key Stage 3 for pupils aged 11 to 14 – Years 7, 8 and 9 in secondary education (ISCED 2)
Key Stage 4 for pupils aged 14 to 16 – Years 10 and 11 in secondary education (ISCED 3).
The phase of education for 16- to 18/19-year-olds is not compulsory and is ISCED 3.

Welsh
At age 16, depending on the local offer and their own preferences, young people may continue at the same school in the sixth form, or transfer to another school sixth form. Schools offer general academic programmes, usually leading to A Levels, and may also offer a limited range of vocational courses. It is more common for pupils wishing to undertake vocational education to transfer to a further education (FE) college at age 16, although most colleges offer both vocational and general academic courses.
Higher education institutions (HEIs) generally cater for students aged 18 and above. The length of programmes at this level varies between two years of full-time study for short-cycle programmes (ISCED 5); three or four years of full-time study for bachelor’s degrees with honours (ISCED 6); and at least one year of full-time study for a master’s degree (ISCED 7).

English schools
English educational system is quite different from what we have in Russia. It is class-divided. There some state schools and some private ones.
State schools are infant, junior or secondary. British boys and girls begin to go to school at the age of 5. They draw pictures, sing songs, listen to the stories and tales. British children begin to read and write when they enter the infant schools. Young children are divided into two groups, according to their mental abilities. Children leave infant schools when they are 7. Then they go to study at junior schools where they learn to write, read and do mathematics. Their school subjects are History, English, Geography, Arithmetic, Arts, Music, Swimming and some others. When the pupils enter the junior schools they pass abilities test. According to the results of the test and thus their intellectual potential they are divided into three groups. Boys and girls spend four years studying at junior schools.

English schools
Then they pass examinations again and enter the secondary schools. There different types of secondary schools in Britain. They are: grammar schools, modern schools and comprehensive schools. English boys and girls attend secondary schools from 11 till 16. They don't go to schools on Saturdays and Sundays. In the modern schools pupils do not learn foreign languages. In grammar schools pupils receive better theoretical education. And the other school type is comprehensive schools. Almost all secondary pupils ( around 90 per cent ) go there.

English schools
There are also private schools in England. Boys and girls do not study together there. It is common that aristocracy sons go to these schools and parents pay a lot of money for their education. These schools are called public. Independent and preparatory schools are private ones too. They prepare children for public schools and take money for the training. The teachers of the private schools can pay more attention to each of the pupils personally. It is possible to enter the best English universities after leaving public schools. After finishing grammar schools pupils have good knowledge and may continue studying in colleges and universities.

Comparison. When do children start school?
In England most children start primary school in the September before they turn five.
In Wales children start Reception in the September before turning five.
In Scotland children with birthdays between March and August start school in the August following their fifth birthday. Children with birthdays between September and February start school in the August before their fifth birthday (but this can be deferred until the following September).

How are primary schools organised?
Throughout the UK, schools are organised into year groups, so children are taught with others of the same age.

What curriculum do primary school children follow?
In England, the National Curriculum applies to children in Key Stages 1 and 2. It includes English; maths; science; art and design; computing; design and technology; geography; history; music and physical education. Key Stage 2 children must also study a foreign language.
Schools in Wales follow the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework (NLF), which emphasises applying literacy and numeracy across the whole curriculum. The Curriculum for Wales identifies different areas of learning: personal and social development, wellbeing and cultural diversity; language, literacy and communication skills; mathematical development; Welsh language development (using Welsh as the first language in school, or learning it as a second language); knowledge and understanding of the world; physical development and creative development.
In Scotland, the Curriculum for Excellence includes expressive arts; health and wellbeing; languages; mathematics; religious and moral education; sciences; social studies and technologies.