We have a strange system over here.
Firstly you have the choice between public and private schools.
School begins at age 4, this is normally where they play with paint and dressing up. Then it gets tough from 5 onwards. So primary school, as it is refered to is ages 4-7.
Middle school is ages 8-10 and secondary school is 11-16.
Now it gets complicated, there are variations on this, some schools go from 4-11, others from 4-16 etc. This is because the government are attempting to abolish grammer schools (where the really clever kids go) and stick everyone in a comprehensive which is meant to help all pupils whatever their ability. However, where I live, the schools are poor so I had to go private and it was tough.
What do I mean by poor? Well... lets try and give examples, basically there are disruptive kids that have been taken out of the special schools that help them with their disruptive behaviour and just bundled into normal schools. Add to the mix children who are on drugs, alcohol, who have difficult family lives and well is it any suprise that so many teachers in this country leave within five years.
Not all schools are bad, its just so difficult to teach in the ones that are. I don't know if I could be a teacher and get abuse every day like they do. Its so sad that they can't do anything about it.