What are NVQ's, please?

Over here it is expected or hoped that a child starts kindergarten at 5/6 yrs old; goes through Grammar, aka Elementary, School to 1st-6th grade, then on to Junior High, which is usually 7th & 8th, sometimes 9th grades, then on to High School for grades 10-12, graduating with a High School diploma.

Soemtimes Elementary school only goes through 4th grade, then they go on to Middle School, for usually 5 & 6, soemtimes 7th, then as above.

After high school, if they want a college degree, they can go for an 2 yr. Associates degree, or a 4 yr. Bachelor. After that, they can go on to get a Master's degree, then even further for a Ph.D.

If they drop out of high school, they can eventually take a test for a General Equivalency Degree, GED, which is supposed to be the equal of a high school diploma. By and large, I think it has come to be more respected than when I received mine in 1971.