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
