Sixth-form

In the education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepare for A-level or equivalent examinations like the IB or Pre-U. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the term Key Stage 5 has the same meaning. It only refers to academic education and not to vocational education.

England and Wales

''Sixth Form'' describes the two school years which are called by many schools the ''Lower Sixth'' (L6) and ''Upper Sixth'' (U6). The term survives from earlier naming conventions used both in the state maintained and independent school systems.

In the state-maintained sector for England and Wales, pupils in the first five years of secondary schooling were divided into cohorts determined by age, known as ''forms'' (these referring historically to the long backless benches on which rows of pupils sat in the classroom). Pupils started their first year of secondary school in the ''first form'' or first year; this being the academic year in which pupils would normally be 12 years old by August 31st. Pupils would move up a form each year before entering the fifth form in the academic year in which they would be 16 years old by August 31st. Those who stayed on at school to study for A-levels moved up into the sixth form, which was divided into the ''Lower Sixth'' and the ''Upper Sixth''.

In the independent schools sector, the traditional public schools did not have a consistent naming convention except for the ''Sixth Form''. As well as the ''Upper Sixth'' and ''Lower Sixth'', the public schools used and still use a variety of descriptions such as ''Shell, Remove, Lower Fourth, Upper Fourth, Lower Fifth, Middle Fifth, Upper Fifth''.

In some independent schools, the term ''Middle Sixth'' was used in place of ''Upper Sixth'', with the latter being used for those who stayed on for an extra term to take the entrance examinations that were previously set for candidates to Oxford or Cambridge universities. Other schools described these Oxbridge examination students as being in the ''Seventh Form'' or ''Third Year Sixth''.

In the state sector, the system was changed for the 1990–1991 academic year and school years are now numbered consecutively from primary school onwards. '' Year 1'' is the first year of primary school after Reception. The first year of secondary school is ''Year 7''. The Lower Sixth (the first year of sixth form) is Year 12 and the Upper Sixth (the second year of sixth form) is Year 13. Public (fee-charging) schools, along with some state schools, tend to use the old system of numbering.

In some parts of the country, specialist sixth form colleges were introduced. A large proportion of English secondary schools no longer have an integral sixth form. This is mainly related to reforms in the later 20th century, where different political areas became a factor in the introduction of colleges instead of the original sixth forms. There are now numerous sixth form colleges throughout England and Wales, and in areas without these, sixth form schools and specialist further education (FE) colleges called tertiary colleges may fill the same role.

Sixth form is not compulsory in England and Wales (although from 2013 onwards, people of sixth form age must remain in some form of education or training in England only; the school leaving age remains 16 in Wales); however, university entrance normally requires at least three A level qualifications and perhaps one AS level. Before the most recent reforms, students would usually select between three and five subjects from the GCSEs they have just taken, for one "AS" year, the AS exams being taken at the end of Lower Sixth. Three subjects would then be carried into the A2 year (the dropped AS being "cashed in" as a qualification), then further exams would be taken at the end of that year. The marks attained in both sets of exams were converted into UCAS points, which must meet the offer made by the student's chosen university.
Since the move to a "linear" system, students more commonly choose three or four subjects and either continue to study them for the full two years before a single set of final "A level" exams, or choose to drop one or two subjects by sitting "AS level" exams at the end of the first year.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the equivalent of Reception is "P1", and the equivalent of the English Year 1 "P2", while the first year of secondary school is known as ''Year 8'' or ''first year'' (rather than ''Year 7'' as in England), and following that Lower and Upper Sixth are Year 13 and Year 14 respectively.

Scotland

In the Scottish education system, the final year of school is known as ''Sixth Year'' or ''S6''. During this year, students typically study Advanced Higher and/or Higher courses in a wide range of subjects, taking SQA exams at the end of both S5 and S6. Pupils in Scotland may leave once they have reached the age of 16; those who reach 16 before 30 September may leave after national examinations in May, whilst those who are 16 by the end of February may leave the previous Christmas.

It is not essential for candidates to do a sixth year if they wish to attend a Scottish university, as they have obtained adequate Higher grades in S5 and may apply and receive acceptance, though this is conditional on being successful in the examinations. However, the vast majority of Scottish students return for S6 if they plan to attend university. Some English universities will also accept Scottish students who have obtained adequate Higher grades in S5. It was announced in December 2008 that, as from 2010, UCAS will increase the number of points awarded to those who achieve Highers and Advanced Highers.

In some cases, particularly in independent schools, the term ''sixth form'' is also used for the last two years of secondary education.

Jamaica

In the Jamaican Education System, ''sixth form'' describes the two school years which are called the ''Lower Sixth'' (6B) and ''Upper Sixth'' (6A), or grades 12 (lower) and 13 (upper), by many schools, students aged 17 or 18 by October 31.

Sixth form is a must, two years long, advanced post-secondary program, at the end of which students write the CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams). These are the equivalent of the GCE A Level examinations which were the standard up until 2003. Som