The primary stage covers 3 age ranges: nursery (pre-school under 5), infant (5 to 7 or 8, Key Stage 1) and junior (up to 11 or 12, Key Stage 2) but in Scotland and Northern Ireland there is generally no distinction between infant and junior schools. In Wales, although the types of school are the same, the Foundation Phase has brought together what was previously known as the Early Years (from 3 to 5-year-olds) and Key Stage 1 (from 5 to 7-year-olds) of the National Curriculum to create one phase of education for children aged between three and seven. In England, primary schools generally cater for 4-11 year olds. Most public sector primary schools take both boys and girls in mixed classes. It is usual to transfer straight to secondary school at age 11 (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or 12 (in Scotland), but in England some children make the transition via middle schools catering for various age ranges between 8 and 14. Depending on their individual age ranges middle schools are classified as either primary or secondary.

In England, public provision of secondary education in an area may consist of a combination of different types of school. At the end of this stage of education, pupils are normally entered for a range of external examinations. Most frequently, these are GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Standard Grades in Scotland, although a range of other qualifications are available. In Scotland pupils study for the National Qualifications (NQ) Standard grade (a two-year course leading to examinations at the end of the fourth year of secondary schooling) and NQ Higher grade, which requires at least a further year of secondary schooling. From 1999/00 additional new NQ were introduced in Scotland to allow greater flexibility and choice in the Scottish examination system. NQ include Intermediate 1 & 2 designed primarily for candidates in the fifth and sixth year of secondary schooling, however these are used in some schools as an alternative to Standard Grades.

Further Education cover all non-advanced courses taken by individuals after the completion of compulsory education. Although it is a post-compulsory education, but it is different from the education offered by the universities (Higher Education). Further education could cover any skill level from basic trainings to vocational courses such as the ones offered by City & Guild or Foundation Degrees. In England, colleges are normally part of the further education sector which includes: General FE and Tertiary Colleges, Sixth Form Colleges, Specialist Colleges, and Adult Education Institutes.  

Higher education refers to any standard education higher than: GCE A Level, the higher grade if the SCE/National qualification, GNVQ/NVQ level 3or the Edexcel (Formerly BTEC) or SQA National Certificate/Diploma. The 3 main categories of higher education are: 1st : Postgraduate courses leading to higher degree including: Doctorate, Masters, Postgraduate Diploma & certificates as well as postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE) and professional qualifications which normally requires a first degree as entry qualification. 2nd Undergraduate courses including first degrees (honours and ordinary), first degree with qualified teacher statis, enhanced first degrees, first degrees obtained concurrently with a diploma, and intercalated first degree, (where first degree students, usually in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine, interrupt their studies to complete a one-year course of advanced studies in a related topic). 3rd: Other undergraduate courses which include all other higher education courses, for example SVQ or NVQ: Level 5, Diploma (HNC/D level for diploma and degree holders), HND (or equivalent), HNC (or equivalent) and SVQ or NVQ: Level 4 and Diplomas in HE.