[Edit]Gender recognition

The Gender Recognition Act 2004 allows transsexual people to change their legal gender.

[Edit]Rights conferred by European Union law

To these rights can be added other rights and 'freedoms' as recognised by European Community law. These include the so-called "Four Freedoms of Movement" enabling citizens of the Member States of the European Union to (a) move freely between Member States, (b) provide services in another Member State, (c) to move capital between States and (d) to move goods between States without restriction. The rights to equal pay and to equal treatment in the workplace and with regard to social security are also recognised.

In addition, Articles 8 - 8E of the Treaty on European Union introduce the notion of 'Citizenship of the European Union' which confers five rights on citizens of the Member States: (a) the right to move and reside freely within the Member States, (b) the right to vote and stand for election in the Member State in which the EU citizen resides, (c) the right to protection by the diplomatic or consular authorities of any Member State in a country where his or her own State is not represented, (d) the right to petition the European Parliament, and (e) the right to apply to the European Ombudsman.

[Edit]Rights conferred by international law

The United Kingdom is party to a number of international treaties and agreements which guarantee fundamental human rights and freedoms. Although such agreements have no direct legal effect in the UK until they have been given formal effect by a domestic law, their provisions have a bearing in the drafting of domestic legislation and by the interpretation of domestic law by the courts. Ministers are recognised to have a duty to comply with international law and citizens may reasonably expect them to do so

16. Secondary Education in Britain state schools. Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university. Secondary education is characterized by transition from primary education for minors to tertiary, "post-secondary", or "higher" education (e.g.,university, vocational school) for adults. Depending on the system, schools for this period or a part of it may be called secondary schools, high schools, gymnasia, lyceums, middle schools, sixth-form,colleges, vocational schools and preparatory schools, and the exact meaning of any of these varies between the systems. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, students usually transfer from primary school straight to secondary school at age 11. In a few parts of the UK there are middle schools for ages 9 to 13 (similar to American middle schools), and upper schools for ages 13–18. A handful of 8-12 middle schools, an 12-16 or 18 secondary schools still exist. These schools were first introduced in September 1968, and the number rose dramatically during the 1970s, but the number of such schools has declined since the mid 1980s.

It is uncommon, but sometimes secondary schools (particularly in South West Wales) can also be split into 'Upper' (ages 13–16) and 'Lower' secondary schools (ages 11–13).

Education is compulsory up until the end of year 11 (the last Friday in June in the academic year a person turns 16), and schooling can continue for a further two years after that. Traditionally the five years of compulsory secondary schooling from ages 11 to 16 were known as "first year" through to "fifth year," (and still are in the private sector) but from September 1990 these years were renumbered Year 7 through to Year 11 (Year 8 to Year 12 in Northern Ireland) with the coming of the National Curriculum.

After Year 11 a student can opt to remain at school, transfer to a college, or to leave education and seek work or to start an apprenticeship. Those who stay at school enter Years 12 and 13 (Years 13 and 14 in Northern Ireland). These years are traditionally known as the Sixth Form ("Lower Sixth" and "Upper Sixth"), and require students to specialise in three to five subjects for their A Levels. In ever-increasing numbers since the 1990s some students also undertake more vocational courses at college such as a BTEC or other such qualification.

This is an unusually specialised curriculum for this age group by international standards, and recently some moves have been made to increase the number of subjects studied. After attaining the relevant A Level qualifications the student can enter university.