Well, the two educational systems have some quite remarkable differences  U.S. children begin primary school, which is most commonly called “elementary school.” They attend five or six years and then go onto secondary school. After graduating high school (12th grade), U.S. students may go on to college or university. College or university study is known as “higher education. The UK's education system in the UK is divided into four main parts, primary education, secondary education, further education and higher education. Children in the UK have to legally attend primary and secondary education which runs from about 5 years old until the student is 16 years old.