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 Eleven 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 Eleven is the shortest year as it only lasts three whole terms. Year Twelve begins its first term where Year Eleven 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 are usually aged fifteen or sixteen in this year group ^[2] but there is no minimum age. Year Eleven pupils are educated in Secondary schools or in Area schools.^[3] Year Eleven 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 31 August in any given academic year.

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

Year Eleven 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. From September 2013, further education will be 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 Eleven 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 second and 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 Eleven are aged between 14 and 15. It is the first year of Key Stage 4.^[6]

References