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High school or '''secondary school''' is the name used for the last segment of compulsory Secondary Education in Brazil , Canada , Hong Kong , India , the Republic Of Ireland , Japan , the Republic Of Korea , Malaysia , Mauritius , New Zealand , the Philippines , Singapore , South Africa , the People's Republic Of China , the United Kingdom , and the United States . It is preceded by Primary Education . The idea was first instituted in France by Napoleon as a way to train future officers for his military. AUSTRALIA Main articles: Education In Australia , List Of Schools In Australia , Queensland State High Schools High school is a term used for Secondary School s in Australia . In Victoria the name was officially changed to Secondary College in the early 1990s , however some of the adult population refer to the period as "high school". In the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania high school is 7-10, and students go to matriculation College for 11-12. In some states TAFE institutes/colleges offer high school equivalent courses, usually undertaken by adult students who left school without completing/undertaking Year 12 leaving certificate requirements. There are also private commercial education facilities offering Year 12 leaving certificate courses, often to students wishing to improve on their High School results in order to obtain entry to, or better placement opportunities at, university. The exact length of secondary schooling varies from state to state, with high schools in New South Wales and Victoria serving years 7-12, and Western Australia , Queensland , Northern Territory and South Australia serving years 8-12. It is compulsory to attend school until the age of fifteen in all states and territories except for Victoria, South Australia and Queensland, where attendance is compulsory until age 16 and Tasmania, where attendance is compulsory until age 17. The matter of compulsory attendance has been complicated by various initiatives at Commonwealth and State level to ensure that young people are in school, training or employment. There are calls to replace compulsory attendance age with compulsory achievement requirements, meaning that students must complete their final year level rather than being able to leave at reaching "leaving age". There are also calls to make attendance to the end of year 12 mandatory. CANADA Main article: Education In Canada Secondary schooling in Canada differs depending on the province in which one resides. Normally it follows the American pattern; however, in , which is comparable to a two-year junior college and is obligatory for Quebec students wishing to go on to university in Quebec. Vocational CEGEPs are three years. Secondary schools in the remaining provinces (except Alberta , Newfoundland And Labrador , and Nova Scotia ) use four grades from 9 through 12, with OAC /grade 13 having been recently removed as a requirement for students wishing to attend post-secondary school in Ontario . The set up in Ontario is more or less similar to that in the United States. In Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia, a secondary school is called a "senior high school", which teaches grades 10-12. A middle school is called a "junior high school", and teaches grades 7-9. Most senior high schools simply have "high school" in their name, without including the word "senior". If not stated, the term "high school" usually just refers to a "senior high school". British Columbia uses a system similar to Alberta (grade 8-, 9-, 10-, or 11-12, depending on regional school boards). In some sections of British Columbia, high school lasts from grade 8-12, with elementary school being from kindergarten to grade 7, while in others a Middle School from grades 6-8 is implemented. Historically several provinces had two secondary education programs. High schools were to prepare students to enter the workforce while Collegiate Institutes prepared students for University . HONG KONG Main article: Education In Hong Kong Secondary education in Hong Kong is largely based on the British schooling system. High school starts on the 7th year of formal education, after Primary Six, called Form One. Students normally spend five years in secondary schools, of which the first three years (Forms One to Three) are free and compulsory like Primary Education . Forms Four and Five students prepare for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination ( HKCEE ), which takes place after Form Five. Students obtaining a satisfactory grade will be promoted to Form Six, who then prepare for the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination ( HKALE ) ( Colloquially ''the A-levels ''), which is to be taken after Form Seven. The HKALE and HKCEE results will be considered by Universities for admission. Some secondary schools in Hong Kong are called "colleges." In some schools, Form Six and Form Seven are also called Lower Six and Upper Six respectively. The HKCEE and HKALE is equivalent to the GCE O-level (or GCSE) and the GCE A-level respectively. As of Oct 2004, there has been heated discussion on proposed changes in the education system, which includes (amongst others) reduction of the duration of secondary education from seven years to six years, and merge the two exams HKCEE and HKALE into one exam. The proposed changes will be in effect within the next few years. INDIA In India high school, as such, does not exist: instead, 9th and 10th Grade form part of a contingent course ending in the 10th Board Examinations at the end of Grade 10; the same goes for 11th and 12th. JAPAN Main article: Secondary Education In Japan The Japanese word for a high school is ''kōtōgakkō'' (高等学校; literally ''high school''), or ''kōkō'' (高校) in short. High school in Japan covers years 10 through 12, and it is not mandatory. Most Japanese pupils attend high school. High schools in Japan are referred to by MEXT as "upper secondary schools." However most English-language newspapers and sources use the term "high school". Many school boards also use "high school"; for instance Tokyo 's metropolitan government uses "senior high school". MALAYSIA See Also: Education in Malaysia Secondary education, unlike Primary Education is not compulsory in Malaysia. Regardless, teenages aged 13 attend Form One while students need to pass an exam before continuing to Form Four. O-Level equivalent is required in order to graduate from Malaysian secondary schools. NEW ZEALAND Main article: New Zealand Secondary Schools In New Zealand students attend secondary school from Year 7 to Year 13, covering the ages from 13 to 18. Until recently Year 9 was called Form 3, and Year 13 was called Form 7, and these terms remain in informal use. Schooling is compulsory until the student's 16th birthday. Secondary school is colloquially known as "college". New Zealand students used to have School Certificate (informally: School Cert) qualifications, this was changed to the current NCEA . REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) Main article: Education In South Korea In :'''Sil-ub Gyae godeung hakgyo'') High schools are called 고등학교 (: ''kodŭng hakkyo''), meaning ''high school''. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND In the Republic Of Ireland secondary school usually starts at the age of 12. A secondary school in Ireland can also be a "Gaelscoil" where every subject is thought through the Irish Language or a vocational school, where an emphasis is put on vocational subjects more so than academic subjects. However, every student in secondary schools must do a compulsory exam, the Junior Certificate at the age of 15/16 after three years of being educated, in other words, finishing 3rd year. The Junior Cert is a series of written exams as well as practical examinations in subjects like Home Economics, Woodwork and Art. There is an optional year in secondary school's in Ireland known as Transition year. This year focuses on students doing activities such as Performing plays/acts in public, going on work experience and other activities related to leaving school. This year is undertaken by some students, but is not available in all schools. However, many TY students feel it hard to go back into the education system after taking a year off. After two years, when 5th(6th if you did TY) year is finished another exam is sat for: the Leaving Certificate . This exam is optional, however about 70-80% of all students who have a Junior Cert sit this exam. This exam allows for entry into colleges/universities and other further educational oppurtunites. These exams are supervised under the State Examinations Commission . Schools are not obliged to have a uniform but in recent times most secondary schools have some sort of uniform dress code. Student councils have also become dominant in most secondary schools, although they have been criticised by many students and teachers for not having any real purpose. The Irish government is currently running a scheme whereby they aim to have every secondary school having "broadband" internet by the end of 2007. SINGAPORE Main article: Secondary Education In Singapore Based on results of the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), Singapore 's students undergo secondary education in either the Special, Express, Normal courses or the Integrated Programme which was implemented in 2004. Both the Special and Express are 4-year courses leading up to a Singapore- Cambridge General Certificate Of Education (GCE) 'Ordinary' - 'O' level examination. The difference between Special and Express is that the former's mother tongue language (English and Mother Tongue) are taught at a higher level (more difficult). The Normal course is a 4-year course leading up to a Singapore-Cambridge GCE "Normal" - "N" level examination, with the possiblity of a 5th year followed by a Singapore-Cambridge GCE "Ordinary" - "O" level examination. It is split into "Normal (Academic)" and "Normal (Technical)" where in the latter students take subjects that are technical in nature, such as Design and Technology. After the second year of a secondary school course, students are typically streamed into a wide range of course combinations, making the total number of subject they have to sit for in "O" level six to ten subjects. This includes science (Physics, Biology and Chemistry), humanities (Elective Geography/History, Pure Geography/History, Social Studies, Literature, etc.) and additional mathematics subject at a higher level, or "combined" subject modules. Co-curricular Activities has become compulsory at the Secondary level, where all pupils must participate in at least one core CCA, and participation is graded together with other things like Leadership throughout the four years of Secondary education, in a scoring system. Competitions are organised so that students can have an objective towards to work, and in the case of musical groups, showcase talents. {Link without Title} TAIWAN Main article: Education In The Republic Of China The secondary education in Taiwan includes junior high school, senior high school, vocational high school, military school, and complete high school. The traditional secondary education institutions were established in "Japanese colonial time." Today, they include many features from the United States. After six years in elementary school, the rules state that children must enter junior high school, or their parents may be fined. There are three grades in junior high. Children who achieve the third grade can choose to enter senior high school, vocational high school, or complete high school. If children want to continue their formal education, they must sit for an exam. Generally speaking, the grade to enter high school and complete high school is highest, while it is lower to go on to vocational high school and military school. Senior high school has three grades. Graduates from senior high school often continue on to university. Vocational high school has three grades as well. Children who complete vocational high school can then enter a technological university. Complete high school is like that of American high schools, in that it has grades seven to grade twelve. There are also international schools such as Taipei American School (TAS) and Taipei British School (TBS). These schools are from grade 1 to grade 12. English is spoken during all courses. Since the curriculum concurrs with the corresponging country's curriculum, graduates from these international schools generally do not stay in Taiwan for their undergraduate degree. SOUTH AFRICA Main article: Education In South Africa In South Africa, high school begins at Grade 8 (the eighth year of education). Students study for five years, at the end of which they write what is known as "matric". If enough passes are attained on the higher grade (South Africa divides subjects into two: a standard grade, in which work is easier, and the higher grade, in which the work is harder)), they may progress on to university. An alternative examination is possible in the IEB (Independant Examination Board) exams. They are set up by a board, representing many private (public) schools. UNITED KINGDOM Main article: Education In The United Kingdom In the United Kingdom , high schools are Secondary Schools which offer Secondary Education . They are also called Grammar Schools , Comprehensive Schools or Academies in some places in the UK. England, Wales and Northern Ireland Main articles: Education in England , Wales , Northern Ireland In England , Wales and Northern Ireland , students usually transfer from primary school straight to secondary school at age 11. In a few parts of the UK there are Middle School s for ages 9 to 13 (similar to American middle schools), and Upper School s for ages 13-18. In some parts of Wales and England , primary schools can be split into 'Junior School' (ages 8-11) and 'Infants' School' (ages 4-7). It is uncommon, but sometimes secondary schools (particularly in South West Wales) can also be split into 'Upper' (ages 13-16) and 'Lower' secondary schools (ages 11-13). Education is compulsory up until age 16, and schooling can continue for a further 2 to 3 years after that. Traditionally the five years of compulsory secondary schooling from ages 11 to 16 were known as "first year" through to "fifth year," but were renamed a decade ago to Year 7 through to Year 11 (Year 8 to Year 12 in Northern Ireland). After Year 11 a student can opt to remain at school, transfer to a College , or to leave education and seek work. Those who stay at school enter Years 12 and 13 (Years 13 and 14 in Northern Ireland). These years are traditionally known as the Sixth Form ("Lower Sixth" and "Upper Sixth"), and required students to specialise in three to five subjects for their A Level s. This is an unusually specialised curriculum for this age group by international standards, and recently some moves have been made to increase the number of subjects studied. There are also vocational qualifications aimed at this age group. After attaining the relevant A Level qualifications the student can enter University . Scotland Main article: Education In Scotland In Scotland , the education system is slightly different than that in the rest of the UK . Years 8 to 13 of secondary education are known as Secondary 1 ( First Year ) to Secondary 6 (sixth year); the equivalent of Year 7 is known as Primary 7, due to it being part of Primary School in Scotland. The terms “lower sixth” and “upper sixth” (years 12 and 13 in the rest of the UK) are not used, being referred to instead as "fifth year" and "sixth year" respectively. (It must be noted that Sixth Form Colleges do not have an equivalent in Scotland; S5 and S6 are always part of secondary school.) The vast majority of Scottish pupils take Highers and other Higher Still qualifications instead of A-level s in S5 and S6 and normally take a broader range of subjects than A-level students. UNITED STATES Main article: Secondary Education In The United States In the United States, high schools generally consists of Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, although the inclusion of grade 9 varies by school district. Students usually graduate from high school in the year of their 18th birthday if they were born between January 1 and August 31, or in the following year if they were born between September 1 and December 31, except in New York (where all students usually graduate in the year of their 18th birthday) and California (where students usually graduate in the year of their 18th birthday if they were born between January 1 and November 30, or in the following year if they were born between December 1 and December 31). A few American secondary schools still incorporate grades 7 through 12, but the norm is usually either grades 10-12 or grades 9-12. About 90% of American students complete high school. {Link without Title} {Link without Title} A high school diploma or General Educational Development Test (GED) certificate is usually required for entrance into a two or four-year College or University and to other post-secondary education programs. As a practical matter, while laws in most states mandate school attendance at least until graduation or age 16, enforcement of the Truancy laws is sporadic. Conversely, students who have failed a grade may remain in high school past the age of 18. In general, students over 18 attend alternative high schools, with the end result being attainment of a GED. State laws vary on the cut-off age for students to receive free public education services. |
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