INDEPENDENT
SCHOOLS
- Most independent schools have charitable
status
- They are not funded by the state
and obtain most of their finances from investments and fees paid by parents
- They are inspected to make sure
acceptable standards of premises, accommodation, staffing and teaching are maintained
DAY/BOARDING
SCHOOLS
- Most independent schools with day
pupils make special transport arrangements for them
- Boarding schools range from those
which are all-boarding, to mainly day schools which offer boarding facilities
for a few pupils
- A number offer weekly boarding
where the pupil goes home at weekends
STATE SCHOOLS
- England and Wales
- Community schools - similar to
former county schools. The LEA employs the staff, owns the land and buildings
and is the admissions authority
- Foundation schools - land and buildings
are owned either by the governing body or by a charitable foundation
- Voluntary aided - the school's
land and buildings are normally owned by a charitable foundation and the governing
body will contribute towards the capital costs of running the school
- Voluntary controlled - the local
education authority is the employer and the admissions authority
- Special schools - are provided
by education authorities for certain children with special educational needs,
though the great majority are educated in ordinary schools
STATE SCHOOLS
- Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland public education up to higher education level is administered
both centrally by the Department of Education and locally in controlled schools
by five Education and Library Boards.
Categories of schools include:
- Controlled schools - come under
the control of Education and Library Boards
- Voluntary maintained schools -
mainly under Roman Catholic management
- Voluntary grammar schools - grant-maintained
integrated schools which take Protestant and Roman Catholic pupils
All schools in Northern Ireland are
open to pupils of all religions, but most Catholic pupils attend schools under
Catholic management and most Protestant children attend controlled schools and
non-denominational voluntary grammar schools.
STATE
SCHOOLS - Scotland
There are 32 local authorities in Scotland responsible for the provision of education.
School boards, with elected parent and teacher members, play an important part
in the running of state schools.
- State schools - are maintained
and controlled by the local education authority
- Grant-aided schools - include those
for special educational needs
- Self-governing - are equivalent
to English grant-maintained schools
UNDER FIVES
Children under
five can attend
- State nursery schools
- Nursery classes attached to primary
schools
- Playgroups
- Privately run nurseries
CHOOSING
A SCHOOL
- Obtain a prospectus
- Most schools have open days for
prospective parents. But it's also worthwhile making an appointment to visit
on a normal school day
- Check the curriculum to ensure
there's an adequate range of options for your child
- Find out about exam results
- Ask about class sizes - the smaller
the class the more individual attention your child will receive
- If your home is some distance from
the school, check what public transport is available
OFSTED
The Office for Standards in Education was set up in 1992 to improve standards
of achievement and quality of education. This is done by:
- Regular independent inspection
of schools
- Public reporting
- Informed independent advice
OFSTED has to report on:
- The quality of education provided
by schools
- The educational standards achieved
- The way in which financial resources
are managed
- The spiritual, moral, social and
cultural development of pupils
