Overview
Religion in the UK
Education
The National Health Service
Housing
Work and Employment
Sport and Leisure
Public Holidays and Bank Holidays
The Media
Key Exam Points
Understanding everyday life in the UK (religion, education, healthcare, housing, and community) is needed for the Life in the UK test and for integrating into British society.
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The UK is a multi-faith society. All major religions are practised and respected
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Christianity is the most widely practised religion; the Church of England is the established church
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The monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England
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The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of the Church of England
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Other significant faiths include Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, and Buddhism
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About 10% of the population attend religious services regularly
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Freedom of religion is protected by law
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Education is compulsory from age 5 to 16 (school leaving age is 16; staying in education/training to 18 required since 2015)
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Primary school: ages 5–11
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Secondary school: ages 11–16 (or 18)
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GCSEs taken at age 16; A-levels at age 18 are common routes to university
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State schools are free; independent (private) schools charge fees
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UK universities include some of the world's oldest: Oxford (founded ~1096) and Cambridge (founded 1209)
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Founded in 1948, providing free healthcare to all UK residents
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Funded through taxation and National Insurance
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Services include GPs (family doctors), hospitals, dentistry, mental health, and emergency care
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Aneurin (Nye) Bevan, the Minister of Health, was instrumental in creating the NHS
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Emergency: 999 (or 112); non-emergency medical advice: 111
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Most people in the UK live in houses rather than apartments
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Types of tenure: owner-occupied, private renting, social housing (council housing)
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The average house price in the UK is significantly higher than the European average
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Planning permission required for major changes to property
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Employees have rights including minimum wage, paid holidays, and protection from discrimination
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National Living Wage (for workers 23+) set annually; National Minimum Wage for younger workers
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Workers pay National Insurance (NI) contributions for state pension and benefits entitlement
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State Pension age is 66 for both men and women (rising to 67)
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Sport is central to British culture
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Cricket: developed in England. The England vs Australia Test series is called The Ashes
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Football (soccer): the Premier League is the world's most watched football league; Football Association (FA) founded 1863
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Rugby: two codes, Union (15-a-side) and League (13-a-side); Six Nations Championship
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Tennis: Wimbledon is the world's oldest tennis tournament (held at the All England Club)
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Golf: originated in Scotland; The Open Championship (or "The Open") is the oldest golf Major
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Sporting events: Grand National (horse racing), Boat Race (Oxford vs. Cambridge)
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England, Wales, Northern Ireland: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
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Scotland has different bank holidays (St Andrew's Day on 30 November is a bank holiday)
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St George's Day (23 April), England. St David's Day (1 March), Wales. St Patrick's Day (17 March), Northern Ireland and Ireland. St Andrew's Day (30 November), Scotland
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BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation): public broadcaster funded by the licence fee; politically independent
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Ofcom regulates broadcasting and telecoms
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Major national newspapers represent different political viewpoints
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Freedom of the press is protected
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The NHS was founded in 1948; associated with Aneurin Bevan
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Emergency number in the UK: 999 (not 911)
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School is compulsory from 5 to 16
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The Church of England is the established church; monarch is its Supreme Governor
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Wimbledon is the world's oldest tennis tournament
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The FA (Football Association) was founded in 1863
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Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world
Answer questions drawn only from UK Society and see what stuck.