UK State vs Private Schools: Costs and Tradeoffs
UK state schools are free; private (independent) schools charge fees. Around seven percent of UK pupils attend private schools. The decision turns on academic outcomes, class size, facilities and personal priorities, as well as cost. From 2025 onwards VAT applies to private school fees in the U...
UK SEN: Special Educational Needs Support Explained
Special Educational Needs (SEN) support in England follows the SEND Code of Practice. Children with significant needs may receive an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), a legal document setting out the support required, valid from birth to age twenty-five.
UK School Year, Terms and Key Stages Explained
The UK school year runs from early September to mid-to-late July, divided into three terms with half-term holidays. Year groups are determined by date of birth (1 September cutoff). Key Stages structure the curriculum: KS1 (Years 1-2), KS2 (Years 3-6), KS3 (Years 7-9), KS4 (Years 10-11), KS5 (Y...
UK School Types: Comprehensive, Academy, Free, Faith
UK state schools come in several governance models: community schools, foundation schools, voluntary-aided schools, academies, free schools, faith schools, grammar schools and special schools. All are free; the differences are in governance, curriculum freedom and admissions criteria.
UK School Admissions: Process, Deadlines, Catchment Areas
State school admissions in England are coordinated by the local authority. The application ranks up to six preferred schools; allocation uses each school's published admission criteria, with sibling links, faith status, distance and looked-after-children priority the most common. The key deadli...
