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High School starts in Grade 9 and finishes in Grade 12, ages 14 - 18. Although students have to stay until they are 18 in order to graduate, they do not have to continue to A-Levels, they are eligible to start at University/College direct from High school. It therefore works out the same number of years education as the UK, if a students wishes to complete A-Levels.

The courses that are offered are different to that in England. All students still have to take Maths, English and Science along with P.E and Personal and social education, however the rest of the courses are the students choice. The High Schools in Saskatoon offer a wide variety of subjects from motor mechanics to aviation, dance to art and driver training to computer science.

Graduation is an accumulation of credits from different classes taken and completed in years 10-12. When a student has enough credits, they can graduate and move forward to college or university. The graduation ceremony takes place at the end of the grade 12 academic year; June.

All in all the school system in Canada is well thought out with all types of opportunities for young people. The social side of High School is just as varied as the subjects they offer with all manner of clubs and before and after school activities.

Elementary school runs from the ages of 6 - 14, from Grade 1 - 8 (the UK version of primary school). Children normally start school beginning the year they turn six, which runs January to December. Although this might seem late, there are studies to suggest that children who start school later, progress quicker and have a greater educational level.

The emphasis in Elementary school is that of entertainment mixed with education. The children learn through fun activities and lots of field trips. Unlike the UK, field trips are part of the curriculum and students gain a great deal from being involved.

As far as I am aware, every Elementary School has its own playground with play equipment in. Although the winters are cold, the children are able to go out on some days and enjoy the fresh air, with supervision of course.

Elementary Schools in Saskatoon use the yellow bus system to transport children to school, free of charge. The bus collects the children from home and drops them safety at school every day and vice versa at home time.

When children leave Elementary at Grade 8, they are educationally on a par with students leaving Year 8 in England and prepared for the dramatic change that High school (Secondary school) brings. At the end of Grade 8 there is a graduation ceremony and party to celebrate the achievements made in Elementary.