There are two main types of school in the United Kingdom, maintained and independent. Schools in the maintained sector are divided into further groups according to the ways in which they are funded. We will begin by looking at the types of school in the maintained sector.

 

Maintained

Under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 there are three categories of school:
 

• Community

• Foundation

• Voluntary (divided into Controlled and Aided).

Schools in all three categories have a lot in common. They work in partnership with other schools and Local Authorities (LAs), they receive funding from LAs and they have to deliver the national curriculum. Each category, however, has its own characteristics.

Community Schools

The LA employs the school’s staff  and own the school's land and buildings, and have primary responsibility for deciding the arrangements for admitting pupils.

Foundation Schools

The governing body employ the school’s staff and have primary responsibility for admission arrangements. The school’s land and buildings are owned by the governing body or by a charitable foundation.

Voluntary Aided

These are often church schools. The governing body employs the staff and decides admission arrangements. The school's land and buildings are normally owned by a charitable foundation. The governing body contributes towards the capital costs of running the school. Usually linked to either the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church.

 
Voluntary Controlled

Almost always church schools. The land and buildings are often owned by a charitable foundation. The LA employ the school's staff and has primary responsibility for admission arrangements.

In addition to the above types of maintained school that are common in England we have Grammar Schools. These select all or almost all of their pupils by reference to high academic ability.

Any maintained secondary school in England can apply to be designated as a specialist school in one of their subject areas: technology, languages, sports, arts, science, engineering, and business & enterprise. There are a number of other types of specialist schools and colleges that fall into the ‘maintained’ category such as: City Academies, Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), Secure Training Units (STCs) and Local Authority Secure Units.

Independent

An independent school is one that is usually funded by fee-paying students and is not maintained by the local authority or central government. Such a school is not required to follow the National Curriculum, although the majority do.