Education in Northern Ireland - School Years

School Years

• Primary education
  • Primary school
    • Foundation Stage
      • Primary 1, age 4 to 5 equivalent to GB Reception
      • Primary 2, age 5 to 6 equivalent to GB Year 1
    • Key Stage 1
      • Primary 3, age 6 to 7 equivalent to GB Year 2
      • Primary 4, age 7 to 8 equivalent to GB Year 3
    • Key Stage 2
      • Primary 5, age 8 to 9 equivalent to GB Year 4
      • Primary 6, age 9 to 10 equivalent to GB Year 5
      • Primary 7, age 10 to 11 equivalent to GB Year 6

(Transfer procedure exams to determine secondary school placement.)

• List of primary schools in Northern Ireland

• Secondary education
  • Secondary school or grammar school
    • Key Stage 3
      • Year 8, age 11 to 12 (equivalent to Year 7 in England and Wales)
      • Year 9, age 12 to 13
      • Year 10, age 13 to 14
    • Key Stage 4
      • Year 11, age 14 to 15
      • Year 12, age 15 to 16 (GCSE examinations)
  • Secondary school, grammar school, or further education college
    • Sixth form
      • Year 13, age 16 to 17 (AS-level examinations)
      • Year 14, age 17 to 18 (A-levels (A2))

Note that although the Department of Education uses Year 8 to Year 14 for secondary education, the traditional First-Fifth Form, Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth are still used, at least informally, by some schools.

• List of grammar schools in Northern Ireland
• List of secondary schools in Northern Ireland
• List of integrated schools in Northern Ireland