Education is compulsory in the UK between the ages of 5 and 16 (from 4 in Northern Ireland), but many children start in nursery or infant classes from earlier ages. Around 65% of pupils are currently remaining in education voluntarily beyond the age of 16. The usual age of transfer from primary to secondary school is 11 (England and Wales) or 12 (Scotland).

The UK has a national curriculum which was introduced under the 1988 Education Act which applies to all state schools. Statutory testing is carried out at the ages of 7, 11, and 14. Examinations for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE; England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) or the Scottish Certificate of Education are taken at 16, after which students can stay on in school or attend colleges of further education. At this stage they either study for vocational qualifications or for the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level examinations (A levels), which are the usual requirement for entry to university. In Scotland, the Scottish Certificate of Higher Education takes the place of A levels.

Only around 6% of children in the UK attend private (independent) schools, the vast majority attend state schools. These are funded by the local education authority (LEA), are open to children of all races and religions and are free to attend. Some areas of the UK have 'selective' systems under which schools have academic entry requirements, but most schools do not admit children according to academic ability.

The local education authority (LEA) can provide information on schools in your area and on the application procedures. Applications are usually made either to the school itself or via the LEA. LEAs deal with all applications to secondary schools. There is no guarantee of a place being made at your preferred school.

Universities in the UK are self-governing and have academic independence. By the mid-1990s there were around 90 universities in the UK. All applications for university places have to be made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).