We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Departments, agencies and public bodies
News stories, speeches, letters and notices
Detailed guidance, regulations and rules
Reports, analysis and official statistics
Consultations and strategy
Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports
Types of school and how they're run - community schools, academies, free schools, faith schools, state boarding schools.
All children in England between the ages of 5 and 16 are entitled to a…
Faith schools have to follow the national curriculum, but they can choose…
Free schools are funded by the government but are not run by the local…
Academies receive funding directly from the government and are run by an…
City technology colleges and ‘ the city college for the technology of the…
State boarding schools provide free education but charge fees for…
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.
If you live in England contact your local council to find: state-funded…
All schools have admission criteria to decide which children get places.…
Most children start reception full-time in September after their fourth…
Follow your local council’s application process to: apply for a primary…
If your child does not have a place, contact your local council for…
You’ll be sent a letter with the decision about your child’s school. If…
You can complain about the way the appeal was carried out, but you can not…
Check school performance tables (‘league tables’), Ofsted reports and financial information.
Educational professionals can search for and update establishment details using this service, previously called Edubase.
Sending a child to school, financial support, dealing with the school
The Department for Education’s statutory guidance publications for schools and local authorities.
Help with school costs, the curriculum and school attendance
Schools can sanction pupils or exclude them - find out what schools are allowed to do, like search pupils for knives or drugs
Apply for a state primary school place through your local council
Explanation of terms used in Ofsted's official and national statistical releases.
Research publications and projects that support school improvement in teaching school alliances.
Find out what help you can get to develop a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Official statistics on the inspections and outcomes of maintained schools and academies in England.
The Department for Education's advice and information on health and safety.
Documents about making significant changes to schools (for example, expansion), closing schools and opening new schools.
Statistics on the number and characteristics of schools and pupils.
Guidance to help schools and local authorities understand their obligations in relation to the School Premises Regulations 2012
Serious young offenders will be turned away from gangs and knife crime through rigorous education and training at the country’s first Secure School.
Information that schools maintained by a local authority must or should publish on their website.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Please fill in this survey (opens in a new tab).