The schools in Britain I

　　In recent years the educational system for England and Wales (Scotland has its own system) has been re-org anised. In 1972, the school-leaving age was raised from fifteen to sixteen, so now all children have a minimum of eleven years compulsory full-time education. Childre n begin their education in the State system at the age of five; some lucky ones may have the opportunity to at tend one of the few Nursery Schools from the age of thr ee to five, but most children start their basic educati on in an Infants' or First School. At seven or eight th ey move on to the next stage.

　　A few years ago the most commonly found arrangment of schools in any district was that of Primary Schools (including Infants) for children up to the age of eleve n, and then Secondary Schools for children over eleven. Nowadays there are a number of different systems in ope ration; some areas still retain the Primary Schools wit h the changeover to secondary education at eleven, but many Local Education Authorities (which are autonomous bodies) have created Middle Schools for children aged e ight to twelve and these pupils transfer to Comprehensi ve Secondary Schools when they are nearly thirteen. The se Comprehensive Schools take children of all abilities from the neighbourhood, and as well as a general educat ion, these schools offer a wide range of academic cours es leading to the public examinations taken at sixteen, and some handicraft and vocationally orientated courses .