All year groups · New to England

Schools in England, for families who are new

If you've just arrived, the school system can look confusing. Every child aged 5 to 16 is entitled to a free place at a state school, and there are several kinds of school. Here's how to tell them apart.

  • 5–16 ages with a free state school place
  • State state-funded schools don't charge fees
  • Council lists the schools in your area

What you need to know

  1. Every child has a right to a place. Children aged 5 to 16 are entitled to a free place at a state school. Your council helps you find one.
  2. Community schools are run by the council. They are run by the local authority, aren't influenced by businesses or religious groups, and follow the national curriculum.
  3. Academies and free schools are run by trusts. A not-for-profit trust runs them, outside council control. Free schools can follow a different curriculum.
  4. Faith and voluntary schools have a religious link. They are state-funded, but they may have their own admission rules.
  5. Grammar schools select by ability. They choose pupils through a test, and can be run by a council, a foundation body or an academy trust.
  6. Special schools support special educational needs. They serve children whose needs are best met in a specialist setting.
  7. Private schools are different. They charge fees and are contacted directly, not through the council.

What to do, step by step

Find your local schools

Start with your council's website. It lists the state schools in your area and how they admit pupils.

Visit and ask questions

Ask about the curriculum, English support for children who are still learning the language, and how the school keeps parents informed.

Learn the key words

Year groups, key stages and the school day work differently here. Our guides explain them in plain English.

Ask about an interpreter

Ask the school whether an interpreter can be arranged for meetings, before the first one.

Questions parents ask

We've just arrived. Can my child start school straight away?

Contact your council as soon as you have an address here; they help you find a school place. Start early, because some schools have no places at some times of the year.

Does my child have to go to a state school?

No. Some families choose a private school, which charges fees. State schools are free to attend.

Are all schools the same?

No. They differ in how they are run, what they teach beyond the national curriculum and how they admit pupils. Compare them through the council's information and by visiting.

Source: GOV.UK, types of school
Last checked against GOV.UK: