Third year, also known as S3, is the third year of schooling in Scottish
secondary schools, and is roughly equivalent to
Year 10
Year 10 is the tenth year of compulsory education in schools in many countries including England, Australia, India, Northern Ireland, New Zealand and Wales. It is the tenth or eleventh year of compulsory education. It is approximately equivalent ...
in England and Wales and Year 11 in Northern Ireland. Most pupils are 14 or 15 years old at the end of S3. Traditionally it would be the year that pupils start their
Standard Grade courses. As of 2013, it is standard for schools to continue to offer a broad general education course mixed with
National 3 -
National 5
Curriculum for Excellence is the national curriculum for Scottish schools for learners from the ages 3–18.
It was developed out of a 2002 consultation exercise – the 'National Debate on Education' – undertaken by the-then Scottish Execut ...
work. At the end of S3, pupils usually choose subjects in which they will work on in their
Fourth year
Fourth year, also known as S4, is the fourth year of schooling in Scottish, Venezuelan, Ecuadorian, Colombian, and other Latin American countries secondary schools, and is roughly equivalent to Year 11 in England and Wales and Year 12 (Sixth For ...
to sit National 3, 4 or 5. Standard Grade courses are no longer taught in Scottish secondary schools. All schools must follow the ever changing 'Curriculum for Excellence'.
Third year was also the traditional English term for the secondary school year group covering the ages 13–14, when a pupil was normally in the third year of their secondary education, though in some areas they were actually in their second year at secondary school (having transferred there at 12 instead of 11) and at schools with an entry age of 13 it was the first year of secondary school. However, this year group has largely been known as Year 9 since September 1990.
The term can also refer to the third year of a
university
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...
course.
Secondary education in Scotland
3
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