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32-1095: The Handbook was first published in September 2006. It was substantially revised in 2012. Since then it has been updated annually. Academy schools are state-funded schools in England which are directly funded by the Department for Education and independent of local authority control. The terms of the arrangements are set out in individual Academy Funding Agreements. Most academies are secondary schools (and most secondary schools are academies). However, slightly more than 25% of primary schools (4363 as at December 2017). There are no academies in Wales or Scotland where education has been devolved Academies are self-governing non-profit charitable trusts and may receive additional support from personal or corporate sponsors, either financially or in kind. The Education Funding Agency monitors financial management and governance of academies. In March 2016

64-565: A foundation school is a state-funded school in which the governing body has greater freedom in the running of the school than in community schools . Foundation schools were set up under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to replace grant-maintained schools , which were funded directly by central government. Grant-maintained schools that had previously been voluntary controlled or county schools (but not voluntary aided ) usually became foundation schools. Foundation schools are

96-399: A fact finding mission to the far east. In 2014, £26,000 had been spent on refurbishing the heads office.Four of her staff had been issued with £1 250 laptops while the school had been running an in-year deficit of almost £1 000 000. “Discussions with both the head and the acting chair of the board demonstrated a poor understanding of the current financial situation of the trust.” Also criticised

128-681: A few dozen partially selective schools . A significant minority of state-funded schools are faith schools , which are attached to religious groups, most often the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church . All state-funded schools are regularly inspected by the Office for Standards in Education , often known simply as Ofsted. Ofsted publish reports on the quality of education, learning outcomes, management, and safety and behaviour of young people at

160-409: A financial framework for trusts that focuses on principles rather than detailed guidance and reflects their accountability to Parliament and to the public. It is sixty sides long, and is divided into four sections with a foreword and appendices. Some governing bodies have difficulty with the document. The Commons public accounts committee concluded that “too often academy trusts are falling short” of

192-720: A form of the previous selective system (with students selected for grammar school ). There are also a number of isolated fully selective grammar schools, and a few dozen partially selective schools . Specialist schools may also select up to 10% of their intake for aptitude in their specialism (performing arts, art and design, humanities, languages, business studies, science, technology, etc). They are not permitted to select on academic ability generally. The intake of comprehensive schools can vary widely, especially in urban areas with several local schools. Sir Peter Newsam , Chief Schools Adjudicator 1999–2002, has argued that English schools can be divided into 8 types (with some overlap), based on

224-479: A former teacher who was the founder's sister were found guilty of defrauding public funds of £150,000. In October 2017, the Wakefield City Academies Trust collapsed, and The Observer reported that "Wakefield City Academies Trust now stands accused of 'asset stripping” after it transferred millions of pounds of the schools’ savings to its own accounts before collapsing. On 8 September it released

256-539: A higher budget per pupil from the Department for Education . There are a number of categories of English state-funded schools including academy schools , community schools , faith schools , foundation schools , grammar schools , free schools (including studio schools, maths schools and university technical colleges ), and a small number of state boarding schools and City Technology Colleges . About one third of English state-funded schools are faith schools ; i.e. affiliated with religious groups, most often from

288-438: A kind of "maintained school", meaning that they are funded by central government via the local education authority , and do not charge fees to students. As with voluntary controlled schools , all capital and running costs are met by the government. As with voluntary aided schools , the governing body employs the staff and has responsibility for admissions to the school, subject to rules imposed by central government. Pupils follow

320-568: A non-statutory programme of study in the National Curriculum are also taught, including Religious education in all Key Stages, Sex education from Key Stage 2, and Career education and Work-related learning in Key Stages 3 and 4. Religious education within schools may be withdrawn for individual pupils with parental consent. Similarly, parents of children in schools may choose to opt their child out of some or all sex education lessons. There

352-403: A particular school on a regular basis. School inspection reports are published online and directly sent to parents and guardians. Children are normally placed in year groups determined by the age they will attain at their birthday during the school year. In most cases progression from one year group to another is based purely on chronological age, although it is possible in some circumstances for

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384-539: A simplified view based on changing policies and legislation, the reality on the ground changed more slowly and is more complex. Since 1998, there have been six main types of maintained school in England: In addition, 3 of the 15 City Technology Colleges established in the 1980s still remain, the rest having converted to academies. These are state-funded all-ability secondary schools which charge no fees but which are independent of local authority control. There are also

416-430: A small number of state-funded boarding schools . Nearly 90% of state-funded secondary schools are specialist schools , receiving extra funding to develop one or more subjects which the school specialises excellence in, which can select up to 10% of their intake for aptitude in the specialism. In areas children can enter a prestigious grammar school ; there are also a number of isolated fully selective grammar schools and

448-418: A state school, attendance is compulsory beginning with the term following the child's fifth birthday. Children can be enrolled in the reception year in September of that school year, thus beginning school at age 4 or 4.5, but parents of children born between April and August may choose to delay school admission until the September following their child's fifth birthday. Unless the student chooses to stay within

480-456: A statement announcing it would divest itself of its 21 schools as it could not undertake the ´rapid improvement our academies need' ". The Academies Financial Handbook describes the correct way of managing public assets. 'Compliance with the handbook is a condition of each trust’s funding agreement'. The Academies Financial Handbook sets out the financial management, control and reporting requirements that apply to all academy trusts. It describes

512-457: A student to repeat or skip a year. Repetition may be due to a lack of attendance, for example from a long illness, and especially in Years requiring standard tests. A child significantly more advanced than their classmates may be forwarded one or more years. State-funded nursery education is available from the age of 3, and may be full-time or part-time, though this is not compulsory. If registered with

544-406: Is concern that some types of discipline are harsh and can harm pupils. Prolonged periods of isolation are criticised as are excessive suspensions. There is concern that schools, especially academies are choosing punishments that cost less to administer. All state-funded schools are regularly inspected by the Office for Standards in Education , often known simply as Ofsted. Ofsted publish reports on

576-478: Is equivalent to "Upper Third Form", Year 8 would have been known as "Lower Fourth", and so on. Some independent schools still employ this method of labelling Year groups. The table below describes the most common patterns for schooling in the state sector in England: GCSE A-level , BTEC , International Baccalaureate , Cambridge Pre-U , etc. All maintained schools in England are required to follow

608-608: The A-level years. While most secondary schools enter their pupils for A-levels, some state schools have joined the independent sector in offering the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge Pre-U qualifications instead. Some independent schools still refer to Years 7 to 11 as "first form" to "fifth form", reflecting earlier usage. Historically, this arose from the system in public schools , where all forms were divided into Lower, Upper, and sometimes Middle sections. Year 7

640-629: The Church of England (approximately 2/3 of faith schools), or the Roman Catholic Church (around 3/10). There are also schools affiliated to other religions; in 2011, there were 42 Jewish, 12 Muslim, 3 Sikh and 1 Hindu faith schools. These faith schools include sub-categories such as faith- academy schools , voluntary aided schools , and voluntary controlled schools : most voluntary controlled schools are faith schools. All of these are funded through national and local taxation. A number of state-funded secondary schools are specialist schools , receiving extra funding to develop one or more subjects in which

672-684: The National Curriculum , which is made up of thirteen subjects. Under the National Curriculum , all pupils undergo National Curriculum Tests towards the end of Key Stage 2 at Year 6 in the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. Pupils normally take GCSE exams in the last two years of Key Stage 4 at Year 11, but may also choose to work towards the attainment of alternative qualifications. The core subjects— English , Mathematics and Science—are compulsory for all students aged 5 to 16. A range of other subjects, known as foundation subjects, are compulsory in each Key Stage : In addition to

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704-423: The National Curriculum . Some foundation schools, also called trust schools , have a foundation or trust that owns the land and buildings. Otherwise the land and buildings are owned by the governing body. The foundation usually appoints about a quarter of the school governors, as in voluntary controlled schools, but in some cases it appoints the majority of governors, as in voluntary aided schools. Within

736-478: The Perry Beeches The Academy Trust , a multi-academy trust, was found to have deleted financial records for £2.5 million of free school meal funding, and that the chief executive was being paid by sub-contractors as well as by the trust. Its schools are likely to be taken over by a new trust. In August 2016, the former principal and founder of Kings Science Academy , the former finance director, and

768-514: The ability range of their intake: This ranking is reflected in performance tables, and thus the schools' attractiveness to parents. Thus, although schools may use the phrase "Comprehensive" in their prospectus or name, the schools at the higher end of the spectrum are not comprehensive in intake. Indeed, the variation in the social groupings in school intake, and the differences in academic performance, are enormous, and there are wider variations between supposedly mixed-ability comprehensive schools at

800-524: The compulsory subjects, students at Key Stage 4 have a statutory entitlement to be able to study at least one subject from the arts (comprising art and design, music, photography, dance, media studies, film studies, drama and media arts), design and technology (comprising design and technology, electronics, engineering, food preparation and nutrition), the humanities (comprising geography and history), business and enterprise (comprising business studies and economics) and one modern language. Other subjects with

832-623: The education system, compulsory school attendance ends on the last Friday in June during the academic year in which a student attains the age of 16. In the vast majority of cases, pupils progress from primary to secondary levels at age 11; in some areas either or both of the primary and secondary levels are further subdivided. A few areas have three-tier education systems with an intermediate middle level from age 9 to 13. Years 12 and 13 are often referred to as "lower sixth form" and "upper sixth form" respectively, reflecting their distinct, voluntary nature as

864-471: The existing elementary schools, to fill up any gaps. The Education Act 1902 allowed local authorities to create secondary schools. The Education Act 1918 abolished fees for elementary schools. This table gives a simplified overview of how the compulsory provision of education by the state (yellow) and compulsory education (purple) developed since 1870, and also how the types of schools used for this purpose evolved. Use some caution with this table which gives

896-441: The higher and lower end of this scale, than between some grammars and secondary moderns. Almost all state-funded schools in England are maintained schools, which receive their funding from local authorities , and are required to follow the National Curriculum. In such schools, all teachers are employed under the nationally agreed School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document . Foundation school In England and Wales ,

928-446: The quality of education at a particular school on a regular basis. Schools judged by Ofsted to be providing an inadequate standard of education may be subject to special measures , which could include replacing the governing body and senior staff. Test and inspection results for schools are published, and are an important measure of their performance. English secondary schools are mostly comprehensive , except in many areas that retain

960-512: The school specialises, such as Cirencester Deer Park School which currently has 5 specialisms. State schools may request payment from parents for extracurricular activities such as swimming lessons and field trips, provided these charges are voluntary. Until 1870 all schools were charitable or private institutions, but in that year the Elementary Education Act 1870 ( 33 & 34 Vict. c. 75) permitted local governments to complement

992-479: The “highest standards of governance, accountability and financial management” and that the Department for Education is often “too slow to react”. In May 2018, The Guardian highlighted the failings in one multi-academy trust comprising four primary schools. The schools serving 2000 pupils were awarding the head a salary in excess of £211,082 which had been raised by 10% from the year before. She had taken £6 250 to fund

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1024-494: Was the way that large contracts for consultancy and advertising were taken out without following the tender procedure, and invoices could be produced. State-funded schools (England) English state-funded schools , commonly known as state schools , provide education to pupils between the ages of 3 and 18 without charge. Approximately 93% of English schoolchildren attend such 24,000 schools. Since 2008 about 75% have attained "academy status", which essentially gives them

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