👉 Types of Schools in the UK
There are many different types of Schools in the UK. The main distinction is between Independent (Private) Schools and State Funded Schools:
- Independent Schools: They are privately funded and are not free to attend. However, they offer education that either focuses on a curriculum not available at a state school or has programs not offered at a state school. The average cost of private school in the UK is £14,940 per year.
- State Funded Schools: They are the most common type of school in the UK. These are funded by the government and are free for students aged 16 and under. They are attended by 97% of pupils in the UK. Different state schools in the UK varies based on their mission, pupils, location, and resources.
Community Schools
Also known as a maintained school, they are ran by the Local Authority (LA). It follows the National Curriculum and is inspected by Ofsted. Every child between 5 to 16 has a place at a state school under the right to free education, and that is why they are not allowed to select students on academic ability.
Foundation Schools
Voluntary or foundation schools have more freedom in the way they operate.
The Local Authority also funds these, but they are administered by the governing body who employs staff and controls admissions. These are used for School Documentation and for the Student’s ID Card.
Academies
Academies are like independent schools funded by the government. They don’t have to follow the National Curriculum, although they do need to provide a balanced one. They handle their own admission process and timetables. There are academy chains that manage multiple schools.
Grammar Schools
Grammar schools select their students by testing their academic ability. The entrance exam, known as the 11 plus exam, is taken at the beginning of year 6. Some schools also offer seats to pupils with special talent in post, music, languages and others.
These schools are ran by the Local Authority.
State Boarding Schools
State boarding schools are also free schools or academies, but they charge fees for boarding. Some schools may have some boarding places allocated to pupils based on their individual needs or the school’s selection criteria.
Local councils run these schools.
