Year Eleven

Year Eleven is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. It is usually the eleventh year of compulsory education and incorporates students aged between fifteen and seventeen. For some Year Eleven students it is their final year studying and may include final exams. In the US and Canada, it is referred to as eleventh grade or "junior year" (despite the fact that a British person in Year 11 would be in the tenth grade in the USA).

Australia

In Australia, Year Eleven is typically the twelfth year of education. Although there are slight variations between the states, most students in Year 11 are aged between sixteen and seventeen. Queensland year eleven students are the youngest in the country, as they usually enter at age fifteen.^[1]

In New South Wales, Year 11 is the shortest year as it only lasts three whole terms. Year Twelve begins its first term where Year 11 would have its fourth.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, Year Eleven is the eleventh full year of compulsory education (5 year olds usually start their first year in Year 0 until the new calendar year). Students entering Year Eleven are usually aged fifteen between 14.5 and 16,^[2] but there is no minimum age. Year Eleven pupils are educated in Secondary schools or in Area schools.^[3] Year 11 was previously known as the 5th Form and for most students they are studying for NCEA Level 1 which equates to what was previously known as School Certificate.

United Kingdom

England

In schools in England Year Eleven is the eleventh year after Reception. It is the eleventh full year of compulsory education, with students being admitted who are aged 15 by 1 September in any given academic year. Most of them should leave by 16.

It is also the final year of Key Stage 4 in which the Secondary National Curriculum is taught and GCSE examinations are taken.^[4]

Year 11 is usually the final year of Secondary school. In some schools, students may stay on in the same establishment for their sixth form education, where year groups may continue to be numbered twelve and thirteen. Since September 2013, further education has been compulsory.

Most state schools adopted Year Eleven as the title for the final year of compulsory education in September 1990, in place of Fifth Year.

Wales

In schools in Wales Year 11 is the eleventh year after Reception. It is currently the eleventh full year of compulsory education, with students being admitted who are aged 15 on 1 September in any given academic year. It is the final year group in Key Stage 4.^[5]

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland Year Eleven is the fourth year of Secondary education. Students in Year 11 are aged between 14 and 15. It is the first year of Key Stage 4.^[6]

References

1. "Cost/Benefit Analysis Relating to the Implementation of a Common School Starting Age and Associated Nomenclature by 1 January 2010" (PDF). Atelier Learning Solutions Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
2. "School years and levels". Team-up website. Ministry of Education. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
3. "Types of schools". Team-up website. Ministry of Education. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
4. "The secondary curriculum". National Curriculum website. Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
5. "What will your child learn?". Welsh Assembly Government. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
6. "The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006". The Stationery Office. 2006. Retrieved 2009-01-11.