Form (education)
Encyclopedia
A form is a class
or grouping of students in a school
. The term is used predominantly in the United Kingdom
, although some schools, mostly private
, in other countries also use the title. Pupils are usually grouped in forms according to age and will remain with the same group for a number of years, or sometimes their entire school career.
Forms are normally identified by a number such as "first form" or "sixth form
". A form number may be used for two year groups and differentiated by the terms upper and lower. The sixth form
is the senior form of a school, and is usually divided into two year groups: the lower sixth and upper sixth. If there is more than one form for each year group they will normally be differentiated by the letters A to D or X, Y, L and M. As in "upper four B", "lower two Y". Schools are frequently eccentric in how they name forms and do not follow a consistent pattern.
Another common identification for form, and one of the most common in New Zealand
, is the number of the year they are in, followed by the cypher of the teacher who takes the form class (e.g. 11JS would be a Year 11 class, who the form teacher is John Smith (cypher JS)).
In some older schools, especially the older grammar school
s and state schools, some forms are not given numbers but traditional names such as shell and remove.
Class (education)
A class in education has a variety of related meanings.It can be the group of students which attends a specific course or lesson at a university, school or other educational institution, see Form ....
or grouping of students in a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
. The term is used predominantly in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, although some schools, mostly private
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, in other countries also use the title. Pupils are usually grouped in forms according to age and will remain with the same group for a number of years, or sometimes their entire school career.
Forms are normally identified by a number such as "first form" or "sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
". A form number may be used for two year groups and differentiated by the terms upper and lower. The sixth form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
is the senior form of a school, and is usually divided into two year groups: the lower sixth and upper sixth. If there is more than one form for each year group they will normally be differentiated by the letters A to D or X, Y, L and M. As in "upper four B", "lower two Y". Schools are frequently eccentric in how they name forms and do not follow a consistent pattern.
Another common identification for form, and one of the most common in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, is the number of the year they are in, followed by the cypher of the teacher who takes the form class (e.g. 11JS would be a Year 11 class, who the form teacher is John Smith (cypher JS)).
In some older schools, especially the older grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
s and state schools, some forms are not given numbers but traditional names such as shell and remove.