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The Department for Education is responsible for children’s services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England. DfE is a ministerial department, supported by 17 agencies and public bodies .
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
The ‘basic’ school curriculum includes the ‘national curriculum’, as well…
Compulsory national curriculum subjects at primary school are: English…
Key stage 3 Compulsory national curriculum subjects are: English maths…
Children also need to study relationships, sex and health education, and…
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…
Includes student loans, admissions and apprenticeships
Find and apply for a further or adult education course and work out what financial help you can get
Education Secretary confirms all pupils will sit a mandatory reading test at age 13 to drive up reading standards.
Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, spoke at the 2025 Festival of Education.
Statistics on education and training in the UK, including schools, post compulsory education, qualifications and education expenditure.
Information for providers and local authorities about funding for post-16 education and training.
Find out how VAT applies to education, research, vocational training, examination services and goods and services connected with these activities.
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