Teacher training : Types of schools

The information in this section applies to England. For variations in the other countries of the UK, see teaching in Scotland, teaching in Wales and teaching in Northern Ireland. Also check Eurydice  and Directgov .

Education in the UK falls into two sectors: state maintained and independent. An understanding of the system will help you to decide where you would prefer to work.

The state-maintained sector

Mainstream state schools

Types of schools in England can be defined by who employs the staff, controls admission and owns the land and buildings. Combinations of local authorities (LA), school governing bodies and charitable trusts or religious organisations might be involved, and this gives rise to three main types of school:

• community schools, which are wholly LA controlled;
• foundation and trust schools, controlled principally by a trust and the governing body;
• voluntary aided and controlled schools, which are mainly religious or 'faith' schools run by a charitable foundation, often a religious organisation.

Most state-maintained secondary schools are all-ability comprehensive schools, but a few are grammar schools, which select pupils according to ability.

Any maintained secondary school in England can apply to become a specialist school in technology, languages, sports, arts, business and enterprise, engineering, science, mathematics and computing, humanities or music. It is envisaged that specialist schools will play a key role in the delivery of diplomas.

Some schools have formed local partnerships with others and are known as federation schools.

Other state-funded schools

• Academies: are set up by businesses, faith groups or voluntary groups in partnership with the Department for Education  and local authorities. They are publicly funded and have to teach national curriculum English, mathematics, science and ICT, but they are not restricted to teaching the rest of the national curriculum. They also do not have to adhere to national teacher pay scales and conditions. The number of academies is increasing. They provide all-ability education and places are free to pupils.
• City technology colleges (CTCs): focus specifically on mathematics, science and technology. CTCs are currently being encouraged to become academies.
• Free schools: these are not-for-profit, government-funded schools which are free from the national curriculum. More schools will open with this status in coming years including both primary and secondary age range.

Alternative provision

For children unable to attend school, alternative provision is made in pupil referral units, secure training centres and children’s homes.

Local authorities may employ a community home/school teacher.

Services such as home teaching are provided through medical education teams for children and young people who have medical needs. The government is also funding projects to find new and innovative ways of providing for these groups.

Special needs schools

Children with special needs are usually provided for in the mainstream school environment, but there are some state-maintained community or foundation special schools, non-maintained special schools (which have charitable status) and independent special schools.

The independent sector

• Independent schools: have no direct income from the state. These schools are sometimes called public schools or private schools and there are about 2,500 in the UK. They do not have to teach the national curriculum or employ qualified teachers, although most do. Information about independent schools is available from the Independent Schools Council  and the UK Independent Schools Directory & Guide .
• Montessori schools: follow their own teaching method and cater for children from nursery to the age of 18. For more information see Montessori .
• Steiner Waldorf schools: part of an international movement with a particular philosophy of education. Find out more from the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship .