State Schools

All children between the ages of five and 16 in England are entitled to a free place at a state school. There are four categories of state-funded mainstream schools funded by local authorities (community, foundation, voluntary-controlled and voluntary-aided) and two categories of state-funded special schools for children with special educational needs (community special and foundation special). All follow the National Curriculum and are regularly inspected by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).

Mainstream State Schools

All mainstream state schools are self-managing and do not charge fees. They work in partnership with other schools and local education authorities (LEAs), and receive funding from LEAs. Mainstream state schools fall into one of the following four categories:

1. Community Schools

Community schools (formally known as county schools) are run by the local authority, which employs the schools' staff, owns the schools' land and buildings and has primary responsibility for deciding the arrangements for admitting pupils. Community schools often forge strong links with their local community, offering their facilities and providing services such as childcare and adult learning classes.

2. Foundation Schools

Foundation schools are managed by a governing body, which employs the staff and has primary responsibility for admissions. The school's land and buildings are either owned by the governing body or by a charitable foundation. Many foundation schools were formerly grant maintained (GM) schools.

3. Voluntary Aided (VA) Schools

Voluntary-aided schools are mainly funded, but not owned, by their local authority. The governing body employs the staff and decides admission arrangements. The schools' lands and buildings are normally owned by a charitable foundation and the governing body contributes to building and maintenance costs along with other capital costs of running the school.

Although the majority of aided schools are linked to either the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church, there are a number of schools linked to other faith groups. There are also some non-denominational schools, often linked to philanthropic organisations such as the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers and the Drapers.

4. Voluntary Controlled (VC) Schools

Voluntary-controlled schools are run by the local authority, which employs the school's staff, and has primary responsibility for admission arrangements. However, the lands and buildings are often owned by a charitable foundation (often a religious organisation), which appoints some of the members of the governing body.

Other Mainstream Schools

Within the four categories of mainstream school, there are further ways in which schools can specialise to offer additional benefits and services. Admissions to these schools are handled in the same way as mainstream schools, but some may have specific extra admission criteria.

1. Extended Schools

These schools provide a range of services and activities, often outside of school hours, to benefit pupils, their families and the community in general. This may include ICT facilities, study support, health and social care, adult education, childcare and adult sports programmes.

2. Specialist Schools

Specialist schools are an important element of the Government's goal to increase diversity and improve standards in secondary education. They are designed to focus on a particular subject area, such as technology, languages, sports or visual arts, whilst still offering a balanced and broad education through the National Curriculum. The Government wants all schools to become specialist schools, specialising in one particular subject by 2008. Existing specialist schools are being encouraged to take on another specialism.

3. Faith Schools

These schools are run in the same way as other mainstream state schools, but usually incorporate more religious and spiritual elements into the curriculum than non-faith schools. Any new faith schools must have the agreement of parents and the local community, and be approved by the LEA. They normally admit pupils based on religious affiliation but may also admit those who are not of the school faith.

4. Grammar Schools

These schools aim to cater for relatively high achievers and are permitted to select all or most of their pupils based on academic ability (assessed by a test called the 11-plus). There are approximately 150 state grammar schools in England.

5. City Technology Colleges (CTCs)

These are independently managed schools funded directly by the government for pupils of all abilities aged 11 to 18. Located in urban areas, they teach the national curriculum with a focus on science, mathematics, technology and the world of work. They offer a wide range of vocational qualifications in addition to A-levels.

6. Academies

These are independently managed, all-ability schools established by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the local authority. The sponsors are responsible for funding the buildings and land, whilst the Government pays the running costs. Academies have much more independence than most secondary schools and can be flexible with their curriculum and staffing to meet local needs. They are free to students and are designed to bring high-quality schools with heavy investment in facilities and technology to disadvantaged areas.

Special Schools

Foundation special schools and community special schools cater for children with specific special educational needs, such as physical or learning difficulties. More information about special schools in the UK can be found elsewhere in this section.