Education in the United Kingdom

Education in the United Kingdom

Education in the United Kingdom is a devolved matter with each of the countries of the United Kingdom having separate systems under separate governments. The UK Government is responsible for England, whilst the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are responsible for Scotland,^[6] Wales^[7] and Northern Ireland, respectively.

For details of education in each country, see:

• 
  Education in England
  
• 
  Education in Northern Ireland
  
• 
  Education in Scotland
  
• 
  Education in Wales
  

In 2018, the Programme for International Student Assessment, coordinated by the OECD, ranked the overall knowledge and skills of British 15-year-olds as 13th in the world in reading, literacy, mathematics, and science. The average British student scored 503.7, compared with the OECD average of 493.^[8]
In 2014, the country spent 6.6 per cent of its GDP on all levels of education – 1.4 percentage points above the OECD average of 5.2 per cent.^[1] In 2017, 45.7 per cent of British people aged 25 to 64 attained some form of post-secondary education.^[3][4] Of British people aged 25 to 64, 22.6% attained a bachelor's degree or higher,^[3] whilst 52% of British people aged 25 to 34 attained some form of tertiary education, about 4% above the OECD average of 44%.^[
In 1885, many domestic policy functions relating to Scotland were brought into the responsibility of the Scottish Office, a department of the Government of the United Kingdom which was headed by a Secretary for Scotland, later the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Following the 1997 referendum on devolution, many of the functions of the Secretary of State for Scotland were transferred to the Scottish Ministers, accountable to a devolved Scottish Parliament.
The first Scottish Executive was formed by First Minister Donald Dewar as a coalition between the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats. During this period, ministerial appointees were divided into ministers and deputy ministers. The Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition continued under subsequent First Ministers Henry McLeish and Jack McConnell. Following the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Alex Salmond headed a Scottish National Party administration until his resignation in 2014 and the appointment of his former Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Since 2007, the Scottish Executive has used the name Scottish Government. The change of name was later recognised in law by the Scotland Act 2012. In 2001, former First Minister Henry McLeish had proposed such a change, but experienced some opposition.^[4]
At the same time that the Scottish Government began to use its new name, a new emblem was adopted. It replaced the use of a version of the Royal Arms with the Flag of Scotland.^[
The Scottish Government is led by the First Minister of Scotland and consists of additional Scottish Ministers and the law officers.
The Scottish Parliament nominates one of its members to be appointed as First Minister by the King.^[6] The First Minister appoints additional Ministers to a variety of ministerial portfolios. More senior ministers, known as Cabinet Secretaries, collectively form a cabinet with the First Minister. The Scottish law officers, the Lord Advocate and Solicitor, can be appointed without being a member of the Scottish Parliament, however, they are subject to the Parliament's approval and scrutiny. Law officers are also appointed by the King on the recommendation of the first minister.^[6]