GCSE in London 2025 - 14 yo

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Current page last update date: 2025-07-15

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The education system in British schools differs from the rest of the world, and even more so from the Russian one. Compulsory education is from the 1st to the 11th grade (from 5 to 16 years old), and if students are aiming for higher education, then it will be necessary to study for two more years - in the 12th and 13th grades. As a rule, these years are already aimed at preparing for universities.

Differences in the education system are the reason why graduates of foreign schools with foreign certificates (including Russian students) cannot immediately enter universities in the UK: they need to fill in and compensate for the "missed" years of study. There are several ways for applicants from other countries:

completion of a basic preparatory course,
a year of study at a university in your home country (or in a foreign country, if you can enroll there immediately after high school),
completion of a pre-university course and passing exams for an A-level or IB diploma.

Alternative destinations

Learning programs-summary information

Name	Meaning	Equivalent	Min. age	Duration, years	Next stage	Cost
GCSE	General certificate of secondary education	secondary education (non-accomplished)	14	1–2	A-Levels	15,000 USD+
A-Levels	Advanced level	secondary education (accomplished)	16	2	University	15,000 USD+
BTEC	Business and Technology Education Board	secondary special education	14	2–3	University/ work	15,000 USD+
Oxbridge Preparation	Preparing for Oxford and Cambridge	secondary education (accomplished)	17	1	University	15,000 USD+
International Baccalaureate	International baccalaureate	secondary education (accomplished)	16	2	University	18,000 USD+
Foundation/ Pathway Year	Preparatory year	admission to the 1st year of university	17	1	University	14,000 USD+
NCUK	The Northern consortium	2 year university	17,5	1	2 year University of NCUK	13,000 USD+
Special Preparation (Medics/Math/Business)	Specialized training	-	14	optional	optional	4,000 USD+
Academic English	Academic English	Language school	8 +	6–12 months	School or University	8,000 USD+

Advantages and disadvantages of English schools

Advantages	Disadvantages
The opportunity to enter the best universities in England, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Europe, the world	Expensive
High quality of education and academic standards	Strong workload
Perfect English after graduation	The need to change the social environment; it takes time to adapt
Useful contacts	The difficulty of choosing the most suitable school for the child, requires a qualified specialist

Top 21 boarding colleges in England 2025

1	Cardiff Sixth Form College
2	National Mathematics and Science College
3	Abbey College Cambridge
4	d'Overbroeck's College
5	MPW London
6	CATS Cambridge
7	Kensington Park
8	DLD London
9	King's College St Michael’s
10	Bellerbys Cambridge
11	Chelsea Independent College
12	MPW Cambridge
13	Bellerbys Brighton
14	CATS London
15	St Clare's Oxford
16	Bishopstrow College
17	CATS Canterbury
18	Bellerbys London
19	Ealing Independent College
20	Cambridge Tutors College
21	Abbey Manchester