In the UK, children typically begin their formal education between ages 5-6 by entering primary school, where they study core subjects. They attend primary school for 7 years, then move to secondary school between ages 11-16, and have the option to continue further education until age 18 by taking exams like GCSEs and A-Levels. Schools are either state-run schools funded by public money which most children attend, or private independent schools paid for by parents.