The three sections of this report on primary education in the United Kingdom provide basic information, discuss problems and trends, and describe recent studies of primary education. After a list of the aims of primary education, section one briefly discusses (1) differences in the educational systems of England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland; (2) links between preschool and primary education and between primary and lower secondary education; (3) the number of primary school pupils and teachers; (4) grouping of pupils and official class sizes; (5) lengths of the primary phase of education, and the school day, week, and year; (6) major areas of the curriculum; (7) methods of pupil assessment; (8) teacher education; (9) available support services; and (10) institutional links between primary school, parents, and community. Section 2 notes the decrease in the number of teachers; the need for teachers with varied curricular expertise; and interest in issues of management, leadership, and curriculum planning. Also mentioned are teaching of science, environmental studies, and art and craft work, and the need to provide for an increasing number of 4-year-old children. Annotated citations of seven recent studies of primary education are provided in section 3. (RH)