I'm writing a high school story that takes place in England. Is there anything in particular about English schools that is good to know?

You need to research the English education system fully and not just think it’s like another country with different accents.

For a start there are many Local Education Authorities which have different systems not one.

Many places don’t have high schools, there are secondary schools, grammar schools but there are some authorities that do have high schools.

I went to one from the age of 11–16 after which I left school to attend a Sixth Form College from the age of 16–18.

But in other places you might go to Grammar School which has a 6th Form attached from the age of 11–18.

Or one of several other variations.

There’s no GPA students study for exams which they will take when they are 15–16 GCSES and 17–18 A Levels depending on when exactly their birthdays are compared to the school year. These are in individual subjects English, Maths, Geography, History etc. and will be taken across the nation set by various exam boards. Most take around 10–12 at aged 16 specialising to 3–4 subjects at aged 18 .

There is very little interest in school sports, no homecoming games, no bleachers with students watching matches, no scouts from Universities offering scholarships. Well except for private fee paying schools.

Remember the age of consent in England is 16 and the age at which you can buy your own drinks is 18. Because my birthday was half way through the school year in my last one I could go to the pub at lunchtime have a pint and return to lessons if I wanted.

Conversely you can get a provisional driving licence to learn to drive at 17, few High School students have cars.

So research the place you are planning to set your high school in England, not everywhere is the same, figure out the age range of students your setting will have in school. Make sure the place you are planning to set your story in actual has the High School system and not something else.