UK CURRICULUM & LEARNING ENGLAND’S SCHOOL SYSTEM
There are a variety of schools to choose from in the English education system, and they are funded and managed in different ways. By law, children must be in full-time education by their
fifth birthday, although most will start school when they are four years old. The majority of children in England attend state schools, but a handful of families (around 7 per cent) pay for their children to attend independent (also known as private or public) schools. Currently, children of families from within the European Economic Area (EEA) are also entitled to a free state education, whereas the visa status of families from outside the EEA will determine whether they can apply for a state-funded place. It is not known as yet what the impact of Brexit will be on school admissions for relocating families from the EU.
STATE SCHOOLS State schools follow the National Curriculum and are inspected by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted). The most common mainstream state schools in England are:
• Community schools – Controlled by the local council and not influenced by a business or religious group
• Foundation schools and voluntary schools – Have more freedom to change the way they do things than community schools
• Academies – Run by a governing body, independent of the local council, and can follow a different curriculum
• Grammar schools – Run by the local council, a foundation body or a trust. They select their pupils based on academic ability
There are other types of state-funded schools in England, not all of which have to follow the National Curriculum:
• Faith schools – Follow the National Curriculum but are associated with a particular religion. There can be supplementary admissions criteria, with applicants often having to provide evidence of regular church attendance. However, faith schools must also admit children from non-faith backgrounds if they do not fill their Published Admission Number (PAN)
• Free schools – Funded by the government but not run by the local council. This allows the schools to have more control over staff pay and conditions and the length of school terms and holidays. They are also not obliged to follow the National Curriculum. Free schools are run as not-for-profit businesses and can be set up by charities, universities, independent schools, community and faith
groups, teachers, parents or businesses
• City technology colleges – Found in urban areas and free to attend. They have a particular emphasis on technological and practical skills
• Special schools – For children with special educational needs, such as learning difficulties or physical disabilities. Some special schools are funded by the local council, while others can be independent (fee-paying) schools
• Boarding schools – Provide free education but charge a fee for the pupil to board. Some state boarding schools are run by the local council, while others are run as academies or free schools
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Independent schools charge fees rather than receiving funding from the government. These schools do not have to follow the National Curriculum but must be registered with the government and are inspected on a regular basis, either by Ofsted or by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). The independent sector ranges from elite schools, such as
Eton College, to more mainstream independent schools that charge lower fees. While the clear advantage of a state education in England is that it is free, many believe that an independent school education is worth the expense. The smaller class size is a clear attraction, with children gaining more one-to-one contact with the teacher and potentially achieving higher grades than they would at a state school.
Using money from the fees, independent schools are able to offer a wide range of extracurricular resources and activities to encourage children to discover new talents. Many independent schools are also able to offer before- and after- school childcare for working families with younger children. Kent College Canterbury is an independent day and
boarding school for boys and girls aged from three to 18. Its extended school day gives every pupil the opportunity to discover a new passion. The list of clubs, activities and societies available for all pupils at the end of the school day ranges from Art Club to yoga. The school has its own working farm, located on the campus, with a wide range of livestock. Kent College Young Farmers’ Club is open to all pupils, and there is also a dedicated equine centre for pupils who wish to ride.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS There are a variety of international schools to choose
from in England. While these are a clear choice for non- English-speaking families relocating from abroad, they are also popular with English families whose children have attended international schools in other countries and have now returned to England.
Left: Vinehall School
Keep Informed |
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