Uk school system

[tostaky]

Hi, iam a foreigner and i havent got my head around the school system here in england.
Is there a good website explaining clearly the different routes / bridges between routes and difference between private, independent, prep, grammar etc..
My eldest is in year 1.
Thanks

[AuntieStella]

The first thing is that it's not the same in each of the home nations of the UK.

Which one/s do you want information about?

[AuntieStella]

Sorry, ignore me - that was based on the thread title, and have only just spotted the 'England' in the opening post.

[SunnyBaudelaire]

it is too complicated to explain . haha

OK 'private' and 'independent' mean the same thing. In addition there are also 'public' schools which are v old v expensive private schools and not to be confused with 'state' schools which are free and run by the government.

Still with me? OK.
There used to be a system of grammar schools across the country, also government run, where the top ten per cent of children would be creamed off by testing to go to grammar schools, while the rest went to 'secondary moderns'. This system was abolished in the 1970s but a very few counties hung on to the system, for example Kent. Most state schools are now 'comprehensive' which is supposed to mean that all pupils are offerd the same opportunities.....whether or not that is true is arguable.

Now these days it gets even more confusing with 'Free' schools, UTCs, Studio schools etc....

Hope that helps a bit.

[AuntieStella]

Official gov.uk page on types of school

This overview might also be helpful

do they help?

[SunnyBaudelaire]

oh and a 'prep' school means a private one that prepares children for the 'Common Entrance' exam that you need to go to a public school. LOL.

[EdithWeston]

'Common' entrance means it is the exam which those schools use in common with each other.

In the private sector, you really do need to look at each and any school you are interested in and find out what it does and when/how it selects. Pre-prep can begin anywhere between 2 and 4 yo and run to either 7+ or 8+. Transfer to seniors is usually at 11+ or 13+ (the latter may require an 11+pretest), and can be by Common Entrance (essentially a conditional offer system) or by competitive exam.

[citymum3]

Probably easiest to state where you are and then locals can give you the scoop. It varies so much now that there is often confusion. Naming an area/town/LEA will narrow it down.