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Types of school and how they're run - community schools, academies, free schools, faith schools, state boarding schools.

• Overview

  All children in England between the ages of 5 and 16 are entitled to a…

• Faith schools

  Faith schools have to follow the national curriculum, but they can choose…

• Free schools

  Free schools are funded by the government but are not run by the local…

• Academies

  Academies receive funding directly from the government and are run by an…

• City technology colleges

  City technology colleges and ‘ the city college for the technology of the…

• State boarding schools

  State boarding schools provide free education but charge fees for…

• Private schools

  Private schools (also known as ‘independent schools’) charge fees to…

Get a place for your child at a primary or secondary school - applications, deadlines, admission criteria, appeals and complaints.

• Choosing schools

  If you live in England contact your local council to find: state-funded…

• Admission criteria

  All schools have admission criteria to decide which children get places.…

• School starting age

  Most children start reception full-time in September after their fourth…

• How to apply

  Follow your local council’s application process to: apply for a primary…

• School waiting lists

  If your child does not have a place, contact your local council for…

• Appealing a school's decision

  You’ll be sent a letter with the decision about your child’s school. If…

• Complain about the appeals process

  You can complain about the way the appeal was carried out, but you can not…

Apply for a state primary school place through your local council

Apply for a state secondary school place through your local council

Sending a child to school, financial support, dealing with the school

• Updated: 21 December 2022

Check school performance tables (‘league tables’), Ofsted reports and financial information.

The English national curriculum means children in different schools (at primary and secondary level) study the same subjects to similar standards - it's split into key stages with tests

You can be prosecuted if your child has unauthorised absence from school - truancy, help with getting your child to school, and legal action to enforce school attendance

Help with school costs, the curriculum and school attendance

• Updated: 24 June 2015

Applying for a school place, home schooling and travel costs

• Updated: 24 June 2015