Differences between the American and British curriculum: a parent’s guide

Kindergarten and reception are different names for a similar point in a child’s learning journey.

This is the first year a child goes to school, which is designed to help them get used to the education system. There is some light learning, such as the very early building blocks of maths and literacy, but the focus is on play, exploration and helping them settle into the school structure.

In the US, children are aged five to six in kindergarten while in the UK, children are aged four to five in reception.

At ISP schools, examples of the skills we’re looking to help children develop in these early years include taking the initiative in exploring creative ideas, growing independence, and recognising and expressing emotions.

In the US, children start in kindergarten and move through grades 1 to 12. Grade 1 in the US begins when children are aged six to seven. The American school structure has lower school, middle school and high school.

In the UK, children start in reception and move through years 1 to 13. In Year 1, children are aged five to six. The UK structure has primary, then secondary, followed by two years of sixth form or college.

These differences in starting ages means that the final year of school is called 12th Grade in the US and Year 13 in the UK, even though students are the same age and have had the same number of years in education.

Additionally, the word ‘college’ has different meanings around the world. In the UK, it refers to both sixth form college and other institutions for educational and vocational courses, while ‘university’ refers to higher education where you gain a degree.

In the US, universities are called either colleges or schools.

You may be thinking about when is best to move to or between these education systems. It’s mostly a question of the age and stage of your children.

Although children move through school at a similar pace in the British and American education systems, there are some crucial entry points. This means that moving into or between the UK and the US curricula may be more complicated at certain points in a child’s education.

At a younger age, students are not likely to experience a significant difference in the type of content covered by each curriculum, so changing curriculum is usually not a big consideration. The bigger challenge for younger students may be the style of learning, which can require some adaptation time for students and extra in-lesson support from their teachers.

At ISP schools, personalisation is crucial – our teachers are trained to adjust their approach depending on the needs of each child.

For older students joining courses with specific exams (GCSEs, A-Levels, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme), dedicated support is needed to ensure the student has the correct subject choices and pathways in place to access their next steps – whether that be a university degree, entry-level role in their chosen career, or something else.

So, while timing is a consideration when moving between the two education systems, the key is ensuring the correct support is in place at school and at home.

For many parents, there is no option but to relocate at times when it is challenging, or more complicated, for the child’s education. At ISP schools, we focus on supporting children to be partners in their learning journey. It’s important that students, families and schools all work together so that students can continually improve academically, grow in confidence and achieve their future goals, no matter when they join a school.

The main difference between the two curricula is specialisation. In the UK, students specialise in subjects for their GCSEs and A-levels, whereas US students follow a broader curriculum for longer.

Most ISP schools follow an international curriculum, which is geared towards building vital skills and academic knowledge while nurturing well-rounded, multilingual individuals. Some ISP schools follow the national curriculum, which prepares students for success both locally and internationally. Many ISP schools also offer the International Baccalaureate, which provides an internationally recognised qualification.

Whichever curriculum students follow, every ISP student achieves more through our personalised, evidence-backed learning, which is tested and proven across our network. On average, our students achieve 11.2% more than national exam benchmarks.

ISP schools follow a journey to master nine areas that research shows positively impact learning, such as the learning environment and ability to work closely with parents. This way, everyone is working together to understand what’s working, what isn’t, and how we can get better.

We are committed to developing curious, confident minds. No matter where you are in the world, an ISP school will deliver an evidence-based learning experience that is proven to help your child challenge, connect and elevate their achievements.

If you are relocating overseas, it is often cultural differences that feel most surprising for children.

Students may notice different extra-curricular activities in American schools compared with British ones. For example, American football, basketball and volleyball are major sports in the US, whereas football (called soccer in the US), rugby, netball and cricket are commonly played in the UK.

When it comes to extra-curricular activities at ISP schools, we offer international opportunities that extend beyond the classroom across countries, careers and communities. They allow students to nurture their passions and grow their cultural awareness as they explore their own fields of interest. Examples of our programmes include ISP Filmmakers, ISP Model United Nations and ISP Chess Masters.

International curriculum schools create their own sense of community and often have a global outlook, encouraging students to gain a broader world view and build empathy and communication skills.