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All children in England between the ages of 5 and 16 are entitled to a free place at a state school.

State schools receive funding through their local authority or directly from the government. The most common ones are:

• community schools, which are sometimes called local authority maintained schools - they are not influenced by business or religious groups and follow the national curriculum
• foundation schools and voluntary schools, which are funded by the local authority but have more freedom to change the way they do things - sometimes they are supported by representatives from religious groups
• academies and free schools, which are run by not-for-profit academy trusts, are independent from the local authority - they have more freedom to change how they run things and can follow a different curriculum
• grammar schools, which can be run by the local authority, a foundation body or an academy trust - they select their pupils based on academic ability and there is a test to get in

Special schools

Special schools with pupils aged 11 and older can specialise in 1 of the 4 areas of special educational needs:

• communication and interaction
• cognition and learning
• social, emotional and mental health
• sensory and physical needs

Schools can further specialise within these categories to reflect the special needs they help with, for example Autistic spectrum disorders, visual impairment, or speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

Faith schools have to follow the national curriculum, but they can choose what they teach in religious studies.

Faith schools may have different admissions criteria and staffing policies to state schools, although anyone can apply for a place.

Faith academies

Faith academies do not have to teach the national curriculum and have their own admissions processes.

Free schools are funded by the government but are not run by the local authority. They have more control over how they do things.

They鈥檙e 鈥榓ll-ability鈥� schools, so can not use academic selection processes like a grammar school.

Free schools can:

• set their own pay and conditions for staff
• change the length of school terms and the school day

They do not have to follow the national curriculum.

Who can set up free schools

Free schools are run on a not-for-profit basis and can be set up by groups like:

• charities
• universities
• independent schools
• community and faith groups
• teachers
• parents
• businesses

Types of free school

University technical colleges

University technical colleges specialise in subjects like engineering and construction - and teach these subjects along with business skills and using IT.

Pupils study academic subjects as well as practical subjects leading to technical qualifications. The curriculum is designed by the university and employers, who also provide work experience for students.

University technical colleges are sponsored by:

• universities
• employers
• further education colleges

Studio schools

Studio schools are small schools (usually with around 300 pupils) teaching mainstream qualifications through project-based learning. This means working in realistic situations as well as learning academic subjects.

Students work with local employers and a personal coach, and follow a curriculum designed to give them the skills and qualifications they need in work, or to take up further education.

Academies receive funding directly from the government and are run by an academy trust. They have more control over how they do things than community schools. Academies do not charge fees.

Academies are inspected by Ofsted. They have to follow the same rules on admissions, special educational needs and exclusions as other state schools and students sit the same exams.

Academies have more control over how they do things, for example they do not have to follow the national curriculum and can set their own term times.

Some schools choose to become academies. If a school funded by the local authority is judged as 鈥榠nadequate鈥� by Ofsted then it must become an academy.

Academy trusts and sponsors

Academy trusts are not-for-profit companies. They employ the staff and have trustees who are responsible for the performance of the academies in the trust. Trusts might run a single academy or a group of academies.

Some academies are supported by sponsors such as businesses, universities, other schools, faith groups or voluntary groups. Sponsors work with the academy trust to improve the performance of their schools.

City technology colleges and 鈥� the city college for the technology of the arts鈥� are independent schools in urban areas that are free to go to. They鈥檙e funded by central government - companies can also contribute.

City technology colleges emphasise teaching science and technology.

The city college for the technology of the arts teaches technology in its application of performing and creative arts, for example by offering interactive digital design courses.

State boarding schools provide free education but charge fees for boarding. Most state boarding schools are academies, some are free schools and some are run by local authorities.

State boarding schools give priority to children who have a particular need to board and will assess children鈥檚 suitability for boarding.

Charities such as or the can sometimes help with the cost of boarding.

Contact the for more information about state boarding schools, eligibility and how to apply.

Private schools (also known as 鈥榠ndependent schools鈥�) charge fees to attend instead of being funded by the government. Pupils do not have to follow the national curriculum.

All private schools must be registered with the government and are inspected regularly.

Reports on private schools

All school reports are published online by the organisation responsible for inspecting them. Find out from the school which organisation inspects them.

Half of all independent schools are .

The inspects schools that are members of the associations that form the Independent Schools Council.

Special educational needs

There are also private schools which specialise in teaching children with special educational needs.