Education and schooling 11-16 years

This chapter takes as its focus the stage of education and schooling experienced by pupils broadly between the ages of 11 and 16 and referred to generally as secondary, lower secondary or high school education. While age 11 is not an internationally uniform juncture at which the aims, content and organisation of children’s education changes, evidence clearly indicates that there is a separation at or near this age in most countries. Following the introduction, three areas are considered. We start by considering the organisation and structure of education and schooling for pupils aged 11-16. Further to this, we consider the range of aims which underpin national curricula and relate these to the third area in a discussion of what nations expect schools to teach and pupils to learn through their curricular policies.