What Is Full-Time Education in the U.K.?

Full-time education in the U.K is education that is undertaken in pursuit of a course where the student spends an average of 12 hours per week during term time receiving tuition, carrying out practical work, undertaking supervised study and taking examinations. Time spent on meal breaks or unsupervised study is not included. The Education and Skills Act 2008 raised the leaving age for compulsory education up to 18 years.

According to the new law, by 2015 all young people will have to stay in education or training, at least part-time until they are 18 years old. Young people have several options to choose from as to how they will fulfil this law including: staying in full-time education and training, including school, college and home education, work-based learning, such as apprenticeship or part time education or training for more than 20 hours a week. State-provided schooling up to the A-levels is funded by the taxes, and the country has a tradition of independent schooling, but parents have the discretion to educate their children through any suitable means. About 93 percent of children between ages 3 an 18 are in state-funded schools without any charges. Some of the main types of schools in the UK include academy schools, community schools and foundation schools.