If any of these statements sounds familiar, you may already have discovered that the education system in England can be puzzling for families accustomed to a different approach to schooling.

This series is for parents and students who want to understand how the system works, what its qualifications mean, and how to make informed decisions at each stage. Drawing on comparisons between the English and Russian education systems, we will explain not only the rules and procedures, but also the assumptions behind them.

We will begin with the qualifications themselves. Why do students often study a wide range of subjects for GCSEs before narrowing their choices so dramatically at A level, while others maintain a broader programme through the International Baccalaureate (IB)? What are the differences between these pathways, and how should families decide between them? We will also explore the role of examination boards, including AQA, Pearson Edexcel, and OCR in England, as well as international awarding organisations such as Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel International. We will consider how mock exams, revision, and final assessments fit into the school year, too.

From there, we will move on to university applications. What makes a convincing personal statement? How should families understand predicted grades and conditional offers? What happens on results day—and what options remain if the results are disappointing?

Along the way, we will consider the less tangible aspects of the experience: the pressures students face, the expectations parents bring with them, the relationship between families and schools, and the challenge of supporting a child through a system that may operate very differently from the one their parents remember.

The series will also look beyond examinations and university admissions. Future articles may explore the differences between state and independent schools, school reports, homework, extracurricular activities, alternative post-GCSE pathways, and the support available when a student struggles.

Our aim is neither to praise the English system uncritically nor to measure it against another system at every turn. Instead, we will try to understand its strengths, its limitations, and the choices it offers.

Above all, we hope to make an unfamiliar system less intimidating. The more clearly parents and students understand how it works, the better equipped they will be to ask the right questions, plan ahead, and keep individual examinations and decisions in perspective.

Education in England has its own vocabulary, traditions, and unwritten rules. Let’s make them a little easier to understand—one question at a time.

What Each Subseries Will Explore

1. Understanding the System

GCSEs, A levels, the International Baccalaureate, examination boards—and the questions that arise when familiar educational assumptions no longer apply. We will explain the qualifications, the choices students face, and the reasons behind the transition from a broad curriculum to greater specialisation.

2. Examinations, Preparation and Pressure

What does effective exam preparation look like, and how can parents help without adding to the stress? We will look at mock exams, revision strategies, assessment, and the emotional pressures surrounding examination season. We will consider preparation for GCSEs and A levels, as well as for the IB, which combines external examinations with internal assessment. We will offer practical ideas for keeping preparation purposeful and expectations realistic.

3. From School to University

University applications can feel like a maze of deadlines, forms, grades, and unfamiliar terminology. We will guide readers through personal statements, offers, results day, Clearing, and alternative routes, helping families understand their options and prepare for important decisions. We will also consider how universities view different qualifications, including A levels, the IB, and Russian credentials.

4. The Parent’s Perspective

What happens when the education system you know is not the one your child attends? This part of the series will combine practical guidance with personal reflection, acknowledging the frustrations and unexpected discoveries of navigating school across cultures. It will explore the fact that there is more than one path through the English system—and that the choice between them is not always straightforward.