What Are The Different Types Of UK Education Establishments?
In the UK, it is compulsory for a child to be schooled and educated from age 5 onwards. There are 3 ways parents can provide education for their child. They are:
- They can home-school their child
- Their child can attend a state educational establishment
- Their child can attend a private educational establishment.
All children aged between 5 years and 16 years are entitled to a place at a state education establishment free of charge.
There are so many different types of education establishments available to you. Your local authority website will have comprehensive details of all the state education establishments in your area. Other websites will have details of private education establishments in your area or far afield if you so wish.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY
As stated above, there are so many different educational establishments with different names, how do you know which one is the right one for your child? Below we have explained what the different types of education establishments are:
- What is a pre-school playgroup?
- What is a pre-school nursery (state and private)?
- What is an independent school (private)?
- What is a public school (private)?
- What is a community school (state)?
- What is a foundation school (state)?
- What is a voluntary aided school (state)?
- What is a trust school (state)?
- What is a voluntary controlled school (state)?
- What is a voluntary aided and controlled faith school (state)?
- What is a grammar school (state)?
- What is an academy or free school (state)?
- What is a studio school (state)?
- What is a university technical college UTC (state)?
- What is a specialist school (state)?
- What is a special educational needs school (state and private)?
- What is a city technology college (state)?
- What is a state boarding school (state)?
- What is a pupil referral unit PRU (state)?
- What is a university (state)?
- What is an international school (private)?
WHAT IS A PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP?
Even though it is only compulsory for a child aged 5 years onwards to be schooled, many parents will send their children to pre-school playgroups from a much younger age (between 2 – 5 years of age)
A pre-school playgroup is an Ofsted registered childcare facility that provides care for children under the age of 5 years. They can provide between 2-3 hours of care a day during term-time. A playgroup is less formal than the pre-school experience and education provided at a nursery. They do activities such as reading stories to children, art, craft, sand and water play, adventure play, music and movement, as well as encouraging children to socialise with each other.
The playgroups Ofsted certificate of registration and public liability insurance will be on display on the facility.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBPAGE TO FIND FREE EARLY EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE
WHAT IS A PRE-SCHOOL NURSERY (STATE AND PRIVATE)?
A pre-school nursery provides child-care for children aged between 6 weeks – 5 years of age. They can be state funded or a private one charging fees. Nurseries offer professional childcare and early childhood education before a child enters compulsory education at age 5 years at a primary school. A nursery can offer full-time or part-time childcare, are open for longer hours and available for most of the year, not just term-time.
Another name for pre-school nursery is creche, pre-primary school or play school.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBPAGE TO FIND A NURSERY SCHOOL PLACE
WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL (PRIVATE)?
This is also known as a private school and is registered with the department of education. An independent school is funded by the school fees paid by the parents of the children who attend the school. The school is also funded via investments made by the school. Sometimes an organisation can sponsor the school.
These schools have their own curriculums. They do not have to follow the national curriculum. Their admissions intake does not usually depend on a child’s ability though some independent schools can have entrance exams where they will choose the highest achievers. These schools have their own criteria on exclusions.
Some independent schools are inspected by Ofsted, some by the independent schools inspectorate and some by the school inspection service.
LINK TO THE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR NATIONAL CURRICULUM – COLLECTION
LINK TO THE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR NATIONAL CURRICULUM – OVERVIEW
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR OFSTED
LINK TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS INSPECTORATE
LINK TO SCHOOLS INSPECTION SERVICE
WHAT IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL (PRIVATE)?
In England and Wales a public school is an exclusive fee charging independent (private) school. The majority are single sex schools and entrance is often based on ability and achievement. Eton, Charterhouse, Westminster, and Harrow are public schools.
The majority of public schools are boarding schools.
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL (STATE)?
A community school is a maintained state school. It is funded, maintained and owned by the local authority. The local authority owns the whole school estate (the land and buildings).
A community school follows the national curriculum, government direction on admissions, exclusions and SEN guidelines. A community school will allow the community to use their premises, offer adult classes, and childcare services.
A community school is not influenced by religious organisations or any businesses. They are inspected by Ofsted.
WHAT IS A FOUNDATION SCHOOL (STATE)?
A foundation school is a maintained state school. It is funded by the local authority but run by the schools governing body. The governing body is in charge of employing teachers and staff. The school estate is owned by the governing body.
A foundation school has freedom to make changes in the way they do things and can be influenced by businesses and religious groups. They have to follow the national curriculum and are inspected by Ofsted.
WHAT IS A VOLUNTARY AIDED SCHOOL (STATE)?
A voluntary aided school is a maintained state school. It is a religious faith school funded by the local authority and the religious organisation such as the church. This school is operated by the governing body who also contribute to the schools maintenance costs. They have to follow the national curriculum and are inspected by Ofsted.
WHAT IS A TRUST SCHOOL (STATE)?
A trust school is a maintained state school. It is a foundation school where the governing body and an outside organisation have collaborated and formed a charitable trust. The school estate is operated by the governing body and is owned by the trust. They have to follow the national curriculum and are inspected by Ofsted.
WHAT IS A VOLUNTARY CONTROLLED SCHOOL (STATE)?
A voluntary controlled school is a maintained state school. It is a voluntary aided school where the funding is from the logical authority only. The local authority operates the school. They have to follow the national curriculum and are inspected by Ofsted.
WHAT IS A VOLUNTARY AIDED AND CONTROLLED FAITH SCHOOL (STATE)?
A faith school must be approved by the local authority and agreed by parents and the community. A faith school will normally set their own admissions policy and usually accepts children from other faiths.
A faith school has to follow the national curriculum but can choose their own religious education studies. They are inspected by Ofsted.
WHAT IS A GRAMMAR SCHOOL (STATE)?
A grammar school is a type of state foundation school. They are free to attend. They are operated by a governing body but funded by the local authority. They choose their students with regards to their ability to pass 11+ examinations in year 6. The 11+ exams cover verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English and Maths.
Grammar schools have a set pass mark and they will offer a place to any student who passes this mark. Other grammar schools called super-selective grammar schools will only take children who achieve the top 11+ marks.
Applications for grammar schools are made via the local authority admissions scheme. Please refer to your local authority website.
WHAT IS AN ACADEMY OR FREE SCHOOL (STATE)?
An academy is a state school. It is not controlled or funded by the local authority. It is funded by the government (the department of education) and local sponsors such as businesses and faith groups. An academy has a lot of independence and can make changes (are flexible) to school hours, term dates and can follow a different curriculum.
An academy or free school is operated by a non profit academy trust. A city academy is operated in the inner cities. These schools are for all children no matter what the ability of the child.
An academy or free school can be set up by teachers, parents, businesses, a charity, a university, an independent school, and/or a faith group. Academies are inspected by Ofsted.
WHAT IS A STUDIO SCHOOL (STATE)?
A studio school is a type of free state school that has about 300 pupils. The teaching is centred around vocational project based learning. This combines mainstream academic learning with real life work with local employers. There is a focus to develop skills that are needed in the workplace.
WHAT IS A UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL COLLEGES – UTC (STATE)?
This is a free secondary school sponsored by a university and/or an employer that educates pupils mainly in construction engineering, IT and business. The curriculum is designed by the university and the employer. Pupils will also get work experience.
WHAT IS A SPECIALIST SCHOOL (STATE)?
A specialist school is a state community school or academy that focuses on 1 or 2 subjects such as technology or arts alongside other academic subjects. They follow the national curriculum.
WHAT IS A SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS SCHOOL (STATE AND PRIVATE)?
Attended by children with educational learning disabilities or special educational needs. Some of these schools are independent and some are funded by the local authority. The majority follow the national curriculum.
Children who attend these schools usually have an education health and care plan (EHC plan). An EHC plan used to be called a statement of special educational needs.
Special educational needs schools specialise in the following:
- Sensory and physical needs.
- Social, emotional and mental health.
- Cognition and learning.
- Communication and interaction.
WHAT IS A CITY TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE (STATE)?
These state colleges are funded by the government and by organisations and companies. The age of their pupils is between 11 – 18 years. They offer GCSEs, A Levels and many other vocational qualifications. These colleges follow the national curriculum however their main focus is mathematics, technology and science.
WHAT IS A STATE BOARDING SCHOOL (STATE)?
A state boarding school is free to attend but fees are charged for boarding (staying there). Some state boarding schools are academies and free schools. A few are operated by the local authority. There are charities that can help a family with the fees of boarding.
LINK TO BOARDING SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
For more information please click on the link below.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR FIND AND CHECK THE PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES IN ENGLAND
WHAT IS A PUPIL REFERRAL UNIT – PRU (STATE)?
Pupil referral units are state schools that educate children who are unable to attend a mainstream school or college. If these children do not attend a pupil referral unit they’re chance of getting an education is very limited. Such cases are:
- Children who have suffered from severe bullying.
- Pregnant teenagers
- Teenage mothers and fathers.
- Children who have a long term illness
- Children who have been permanently expelled from their mainstream school.
- Children with special educational needs that have been diagnosed but not so severe to attend a special educational needs school.
- Children with suspected special educational needs that have not yet been diagnosed.
- Children with anger managements and behavioural issues,
- Children with mental health issues.
- Children with phobia about schools
- Children who refuse to attend school.
A PRU is an alternative to a mainstream school. Their aim is to continue to educate troubled children while their issues are addressed. Class sizes are small so they get more one to one attention. Some children can attend both a mainstream school and a PRU at the same time.
A PRU is funded by the local authority. Mainstream schools normally refer a child to a PRU or sometimes the local authority will send a child to a PRU when a child is excluded from a mainstream school because it has to provide alternative provision from the 6th school day of their exclusion.
A headteacher of the PRU can exclude a child if they deem it necessary.
It may not be possible for the PRU to teach the full national curriculum but they should teach as much as possible. Children who attend a PRU will have access to educational psychologists, counsellors, social workers and experienced teachers who deal with issues. The children will have a timetable and education plan specially catered to them and extra help where needed. Older children may get experience with work and vocational studies as well.
WHAT IS A UNIVERSITY (STATE)?
A university is a high level education establishment/institution where students study for academic degrees in many disciplines (both arts and sciences).
Students can study for:
- An undergraduate degree BA or BSc (usually studied for after sixth form and A level studies)
- A postgraduate degree MA or MSc (usually studied for after an undergraduate degree is complete).
- A PhD (doctorate – usually studied after a postgraduate degree).
There are 140 universities in the UK. 24 of these universities make up the Russell Group of universities which are the top universities in the UK according to rank.
Undergraduate applications to most UK universities are done through UCAS (universities and colleges admissions service).
There are entry requirements for all universities which depend upon the university and the course.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
WHAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (PRIVATE)?
An international school is a fee paying school where the following children can enrol to study:
- Children whose parents permanently live abroad.
- Children of expats
- Children of diplomats
Most international schools will allow local children of the host country where they are based to apply to enrol in the school. International schools have the flexibility to set their own term dates and admissions criteria. They also offer an internationally recognised curriculum which focuses on international education. The qualifications gained by the students at the age of 16 years and 18 years will be recognised globally and be valid in other countries.
International schools will teach their students about the different cultures of the world. This prepares the children to enter a globalised multicultural society.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR INTERATIONAL SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION