English does not equal British WAS Re: French Derivatives & Translation Issues

[pamscotland]

No: HPFGUIDX 40529

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Allison Hector" 
> I recently spent the fall semester in Bristol and so got to 
understand the British system much better but I still get a bit 
confused when it comes to how old people actually are in sixthform/a-
levels (what would be the latter part of high school in the US). I 
don't think years/ages exactly correlate. 

>When I was younger I was told that British kids had an "extra" year 
between high school and college. But it's not that simple really. 

<snip>

It certainly isn't that simple - it depends where in Britain the 
British kids are being educated!  I think you probably got to know 
the *English* system much better.  Generally, the educational system 
in Scotland is rather different although there are a very few schools 
(usually fee-paying private schools) in Scotland that follow the 
English system.

Children in Scotland usually spend 7 years in primary school and then 
go to their secondary school - so Secondary 1 is year 8.  In England 
they spend six years in primary school so that Secondary 1 is year 7.

In Scotland the first public exams are taken in fourth year of 
secondary school (year 11) - standard grades (formerly Ordinary or O 
grades).  It's a while since I had any contact with the English 
system so I can't remember what they do now - I think they take first 
public exams after an extra year in secondary school - so that would 
be at the same time (the same age) - are you still with me?  Now, the 
next stage in Scottish schools is Highers, usually taken after one 
more year.  In England the Advanced levels (if they still do them) 
are 2 years after the Ordinary levels (or whatever they are called).

In Scottish schools many students stay on to do sixth year studies - 
as well as some more Highers, or Advanced Highers, or retake Highers 
if they need them to get into university.  However many Scottish 
students do start university or college at the age of 17 straight 
from school, whereas 18 would be more usual for a student in England 
going straight into higher education.  On the other hand, many 
students (in Scotland and in England) take at least one Gap year 
between school and college (if for no other reason than to build up 
the bank balance a bit by getting a job). 

One should never forget that Hogwarts is in Scotland - a British 
country with its own separate educational system, its own separate 
legal system and, now, its own Parliament.  I sometimes think that 
JKR put Hogwarts in Scotland not just because she herself lived here 
but because it sort of represents both inclusion in and independence 
of a larger and, in some ways, more powerful society - like the 
Muggle and Wizarding worlds perhaps.

Cheers for now

Pam