There are now a range of different types of secondary schools that you can apply for such as Free Schools, Academies and Private Schools. You must consider the best school for your child!
Free Schools are the newest type of schools which are set up by teachers, parents, communities, charities, faith groups and are funded by the state. A Free School is usually set up as a result of a demand by the local community.
Academies are independently run schools set up by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups in partnership with the local authority and the government Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Private Schools are independent schools which parents choose to pay for their child’s education. Parents pay towards the fee to run the school.
Specialist Schools – State secondary schools often specialise in a subject area, this is based on the exam results. Schools can specialise in: the arts, maths and computing, business and enterprise, music, engineering, science, humanities, sports, languages, and technology.
Voluntary Schools voluntary aided schools are usually faith schools, they are sometimes funded by the local authority, but the building or land is owned by a charity or church.
Community Schools – are schools run by the local authority, they will employ staff and set the entrance criteria.
If you want to know more about the school you want to send your child to, call them up and ask them to send you a prospectus, call them to arrange a visit or visit the BBC website to look at their past exam performance, remember to consider the value added.
The value added score should give you a sound understanding of how well students progress from when they start the school until they leave. A score of 1000 shows good progress.