State schools in England & Wales

The local council usually chooses the school for your child. When you apply, you are given 3-6 choices. You don’t have to use all the choices.

You can choose any state school that you like, even if you don’t live in the catchment area or it is in a different county. Be aware you are less likely to get a space if you are not in the catchment area or near the school. For this reason, it is important to make sure one of your choices is your catchment area school.

You usually need a permanent address before you can apply, especially for popular schools. You will need to prove your child’s date of birth.

If you apply after the deadline, you may not get a place in one of your school choices. The deadline for applications is different depending on the age of the child:

1. For children starting school

Everyone wanting their child to go to state school has to apply for a school place. This is true even if your child is at a nursery on the school site.

The school year starts on September 1. You need to apply by January 15 in the school year before your child turns 5.

For example, for a child who will be 5 in May 2023, you would need to apply by January 15, 2022.

2. For children moving school

Children moving up from a primary school or lower school must apply for a place at the next school. They do not get an automatic place, even in towns where there is only one secondary school. The same is true for middle schools and upper schools. You must apply for a place in the school year before they move. The deadline is January 15 for middle schools and October 31 for secondary schools and upper schools.

If you did not get a place for your child in any of your chosen schools, you can appeal once for each school. You must be able to prove it would be bad for your child to go to the school they were given, or that there are important reasons why your child should go to the school you want. It is a good idea to get legal advice.

Before you appeal, make sure you have accepted a place in the school the council has offered you (this won’t make any difference to the appeal). Also, ring up the schools you wanted and make sure you are on their waiting list.

• Read more about appealing a decision on the main government website.

A catchment area is the name for the parts of a town, city or village that the school serves. Not all schools use the catchment area system, however.

Most state schools in England follow the National Curriculum. This is the name for the government rules about what they teach. State schools that don’t follow the National Curriculum (for example, academies) must reach similar standards as other schools, so you might not notice much of a difference between them.

Private schools do not follow the National Curriculum.

In Wales, 3-7 year olds in state schools follow a different system, called Foundation Phase. Children aged 7+ currently follow the National Curriculum, but a new Welsh version will be introduced in 2021.

The National Curriculum arranges learning in blocks, called Key Stages (KS):

• Early Years: ages 3-5
• KS1: ages 5-7
• KS2: ages 7-11
• KS3: ages 11-14
• KS4: ages 14-16

Government-funded schools are called state schools. Britain provides free education in state schools to children from age 5 until 18.

Even though the education is free, there are some costs. For example, you will need to buy school uniform and sports kit. You will probably also need to pay some money for lunch, school trips and lessons like cookery (FT), design (DT) and swimming. There is help available if you are on a low income.

• Read the Holidays, Uniform, Transport, Lunch section for more information about these costs.

All children aged 5-18 who are resident in the UK are eligible for school, so your child would be allowed to go to a state school even if you have a visa that says No Recourse to Public Funds.

Be aware that if your child is given a visa to study at a specific private school, they cannot leave it go to a state school instead.

If you are worried about your child not understanding English, try to find a school with good EAL (English as an Additional Language) support. Speak to your local council.

Some schools (especially in city centres) are very used to having children arriving with low levels of English and may also offer classes for parents. It is worth researching different schools online before making a choice.

Children moving up from a primary school or lower school must apply for a place at the next school. They do not get an automatic place, even in towns where there is only one secondary school. The same is true for middle schools and upper schools.

You must apply for a place in the school year before they move. The deadline is January 15 for middle schools and October 31 for secondary schools and upper schools.

If you move to an area during the school year and want to send your child to a state school, speak to your local council for help.

You could also speak to directly to schools to ask if they have space.

You will need to prove your child’s date of birth.

If your child is unhappy at a state school you should first try to solve the problem by speaking to the class teacher, headteacher or governors. There may be ways they can help.

If you still want to move your child, you will need to find a school with a space in your child’s year group.

You usually need to apply for a new school through your local council. For some schools (for example academies), you can ask the school.

It is very important you do not take your child from the problem school until you have a place in a new school.

Moving schools at any time other than the usual transfer to the next type of school is called ‘in-year transfer’ or ‘placing request’. Speak to your local council for more information.

Children who behave badly may be ‘excluded’ – told not to come to school for a short time, usually a few days. This is sometimes called ‘being suspended’.

If your child’s behaviour is really bad, they might be ‘permanently excluded’ –told to leave the school forever (also known as ‘being expelled’).

The local council must find you a new school for your child within 5 days. Children who struggle at mainstream school might be sent to a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) for a short time.

Children between 5 and 16 can get free transport to state schools, but don’t assume that this will be on offer.

For example, at primary or lower school level (from age 4 to ages 11 or 9) there is commonly no transport available. The reason is that these are usually small schools that serve local children. It is expected that parents must walk or drive the children there themselves (children must be collected by an adult until year 6).

Bigger schools and those that serve older children are more likely to have a bus service. To qualify for free transport:

• Children between 5 and 7 must live at least 2 miles from the school.
• Children 8-16 must live at leave 3 miles from the school.
• If there is no safe walking route
• If they have a medical condition or need extra support

The transport is only for children going to their nearest school. There is no transport for nursery places. Be aware that some schools offer no transport at all.

Children claiming Free School Meals may also be able to get extra help with transport.

Some schools also run their own bus service, but you might have to pay for it. Speak to your local school.

See the main government website or contact your local council.

School holiday and term dates vary across England and Wales, depending on the type of school. Private schools often have longer holidays than state schools.

As well as the main holidays, there may be training days for teachers, called ‘inset days’ or ‘in service days’. The school website will give you the exact details.

In general, the English/Welsh state school year starts in early September and ends in late July:

• 1 week at the end of October (called ‘October half term’)
• 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year
• 1 week in February (‘February half term’)
• 2 weeks over Easter
• 1 week in May (‘May half term’)
• 6 weeks from July to September

There are strict rules about taking children out of school. You must ask permission from the headteacher before you go or you may have to pay a fine. It will be recorded as an unauthorised absence unless there was a very good reason.

Most schools have a school uniform that all children must wear. The school will tell you which clothes are needed.

Some schools don’t mind where you get the clothes, so you will be able to them in supermarkets and department stores. Other schools have very strict rules and you might have to buy the clothes from just one place.

School uniforms can be very expensive, especially when you add the cost of the clothes needed for sport (called a ‘PE kit’). You might need to spend over £300. If you cannot afford the uniform, you might be able to get help from your local council.

It is normal for neat hairstyles to be part of the school uniform (coloured hair or ‘punk’ styles are usually not allowed).

MORE INFORMATION: Look out for second-hand uniform sales at the school, where you can buy used items of uniform. These are usually sold very cheaply.

A dress down day (sometimes called a mufti day or non-uniform day) is a day when children can come to school in their regular clothes. Often children must bring a small donation which is used to raise money for the school or a charity.

Most schools offer a cooked lunch. In primary schools, parents usually pay for the lunch once a term. Secondary schools often have a café where children can buy lunch or snacks. It is also possible to bring a packed lunch.

In English state schools, all children in Reception and Years 1 & 2 get free school meals.

Families with a low income might be able to apply for free school meals for their child. This includes people claiming some state welfare payments and asylum seekers. If you find it difficult to pay for your child’s meal, contact your local council.

The government gives extra money to the school for every child having free school meals, as well as the money for the meal. This is a big help for the school. It also means you might be able to get other things free or discounted, including school uniform and musical instrument lessons.

If you are on a low income, you might be able to apply for free school meals for your child. This includes people claiming some state welfare payments and asylum seekers.

The government gives extra money to the school for every child having free school meals, as well as the money for the meal. This is a big help for the school. It also means you might be able to get other things free or discounted, including school uniform and musical instrument lessons.

For help with school uniform costs, contact your local council.

School governors are a group of people who monitor the spending and performance of a school. Some governors are teachers, but others are parents or community members.

There are over 250,000 governors for state schools in England alone (Scottish state schools do not have governors, the local council monitors the school).

Being a governor is a voluntary role. Nearly anyone over the age of 18 can apply. Full training is given. Read more on the National Governance Association website.

A PTA (Parent and Teacher Association) is a group of parents and teachers at a school who organise events to raise money. It is sometimes called a Parent Council. The money is used to buy things for the school or to pay for school trips.

Anyone with a child at the school is automatically a member of the PTA. Most PTAs find it hard to get enough people to help, so if you want to help you will be very welcome.

Helping is also a good way to make friends and understand the school better.

STEM means Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

The LEA (local education authority) is the name given to a local council that looks after the community state schools in its area. This is usually a county council or borough council.

You do not have to give gifts to your child’s teacher at Christmas. Many people do not give anything, others just give a Christmas card. If you do decide to give a gift, something up to the value of £5 would be normal.

It is customary to buy the teacher a small gift at the end of the school year. Flowers, chocolates, stationery and wine are all acceptable. Where gifts are given, it is usually a value of £2 to a maximum of £20. Only in competitive private schools are gifts likely to be of a higher value.

However, it is also acceptable not to give a gift and instead just write a card. Most teachers love making a difference to the children they teach and say they would rather have kind words than expensive gifts.

Every child gets help in school with their learning. Some children need more (or different) help to that normally provided for children of the same age.  Some children need help all the way through school. Others may need it only for a short time.

Where possible, children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are taught in mainstream schools. Contact your school’s SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator). They will arrange for your child to be assessed.

Depending on the result of the assessments, the school might get extra help from the government or they might suggest a different school.

If your child has severe needs or disabilities and can’t go to a mainstream school, contact your local council as soon as you can. Ask for an education, health and care (EHC) assessment.

The local council can help you to find the best school for your child. In some cases, it will pay for a place in a private school.

Alternatively, you can homeschool your child, as long as the local council agrees.

There is more information here from an organisation called Sense.

In the English school system, SEND means Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Where possible, children with SEND are taught in mainstream schools. However, there are some schools that specialise.

You can ask the school for an assessment if you think you child has SEND.

There are charities, social groups and support for people who have children with SEND. Ask the school or your local council for details.

A SENCO is a Special Educational Needs Coordinator. This is the teacher in schools who looks after children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Every school should have one.

ASD is Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Read more at the National Autistic Society website.

The Local Offer is a local council team that gives information about services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. This includes education, support, travel and independent living. Contact your local council for details.

It is a good idea to check your council’s Local Offer website regularly as this is where updates will be announced.

Hiring a tutor has become common in some areas. Many parents choose tutors to help their children with entrance exams to private schools or grammar schools.

Some parents use tutors to help their children do better in certain subjects. You can also hire tutors to help your child learn a musical instrument.

Be aware that anyone can say they are a tutor – there is no regulation. Make sure any tutor you use has been DBS checked (a test to make sure they don’t have a criminal record).

Prices start at about £10 an hour, but can be as high as £100.

Most schools offer the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. Sometimes this will be as a group, where everyone learns one particular instrument in lesson time or during a lunchtime club. Some common instruments are the guitar, the recorder or the pBone (plastic trombone).

If you want your child to learn a specific instrument, ask the school for details. In state schools, the local council usually offers special lessons either during school or after school. It is normal to have to pay for these. If your family has a low income, speak to the school and local council. You might be able to get free lessons or cheaper lessons.

If you cannot get lessons through the school, you can try to find a private music tutor. Look online for tutors near you. Make sure they have been DBS checked (a check to see if they have a criminal record).

Wraparound care is the name given to childcare before the school day starts and after it finishes. This helps parents work a full day. Many schools offer wraparound care from 08.00 to 18.00. Sometimes longer hours are available.

Many schools also offer holiday care, which covers school holidays. Ask the school for details.