What do they call high school in the UK?

In the United Kingdom, what is the conventional term for the educational stage that follows primary school and is equivalent to what is known as “high school” in other countries? Specifically, after children complete primary school (generally around age 11), what are the secondary educational institutions commonly called across the UK, and are there significant differences in terminology within its constituent countries—such as England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland? Additionally, how might terms like “secondary school,” “comprehensive school,” “grammar school,” or “high school” (in specific contexts like Scotland) be applied or differentiated in each region?

In the United Kingdom, the term "high school" is not commonly used; instead, institutions catering to students aged 11 to 16 or 18 are typically referred to as secondary schools. Here are key details:

1. Terminology:

   • Secondary School: The standard term for the stage of education following primary school (ages 5–11). It covers students from Year 7 (age 11) to Year 11 (age 16) in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, or S1 to S4 (ages 12–16) in Scotland.
   • High School: Occasionally used in Scotland as part of school names (e.g., "Edinburgh High School"), but it is interchangeable with "secondary school" in this context. In other UK regions, it is rarely the official designation.

2. Structure:

   • Key Stages:
     • England, Wales, and Northern Ireland:
     • Key Stage 3 (ages 11–14)
     • Key Stage 4 (ages 14–16), culminating in GCSE exams.
     • Scotland:
     • Broad General Education (S1–S3, ages 12–15)
     • Senior Phase (S4–S6, ages 15–18), with National Qualifications (e.g., Nationals, Highers, Advanced Highers).
   • Sixth Form/Post-16: Secondary schools often include a sixth form for ages 16–18, where students study A-Levels, BTECs, or equivalent qualifications. Some schools have separate "sixth form colleges."

3. Types of Secondary Schools:

   • Comprehensive Schools: Non-selective, accepting all students.
   • Grammar Schools: Selective, admitting students based on academic entry exams (common in England and Northern Ireland).
   • Academies/Free Schools: State-funded independent schools with greater autonomy.
   • Faith Schools: Often run by religious organizations, teaching faith-based curricula.
   • Public Schools: Historically private, fee-charging institutions (e.g., Eton, Harrow), distinct from state schools.

4. Regional Variations:

   • England: Predominantly "secondary schools," with academies being common.
   • Wales: Similar to England, but with increased focus on the Welsh language (e.g., "ysgol uwchradd" in Welsh).
   • Scotland: "High school" is frequently used in names (e.g., "Glasgow High School"), though the official term is "secondary school."
   • Northern Ireland: Includes grammar schools (selective) and secondary schools (non-selective), with a focus on the post-primary system.

5. Exit Pathways:

   • At age 16, students may:
     • Leave education for vocational training (e.g., apprenticeships).
     • Stay in full-time education (sixth form/sixth form college).
     • Enter employment with part-time study.
   • Compulsory education ends at 16 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland; in Scotland, it ends at 18 or upon achieving a qualification.
6. Historical Context:
   • "High school" was historically used in the UK for post-primary schools but was largely phased out by the 20th century in favor of "secondary school" to align with the tripartite system (secondary modern, grammar, technical schools). Modern education reforms have standardized "secondary school" since the 1944 Education Act.

In summary, secondary school is the universal term for UK high school-equivalent institutions, with "high school" persisting mainly in Scotland as a naming convention.