UK school places are allocated by local councils. Contact your local council as soon as you arrive to apply for a school place β spaces may be limited, especially mid-year.
Year Groups
The UK school system at a glance
From Nursery (age 3) to Year 13 (age 18). Hover a chip to see the Key Stage.
Early Years (EYFS)
Nursery
Age 3β4
Primary School (Key Stages 1 & 2)
Reception
Age 4β5
Year 1
Age 5β6
Year 2
Age 6β7
Year 3
Age 7β8
Year 4
Age 8β9
Year 5
Age 9β10
Year 6
Age 10β11
Secondary School (Key Stages 3 & 4)
Year 7
Age 11β12
Year 8
Age 12β13
Year 9
Age 13β14
Year 10
Age 14β15
Year 11
Age 15β16
Sixth Form / College
Year 12
Age 16β17
Year 13
Age 17β18
School Types
Which type of school for your child?
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State Primary School
Ages 4β11 Β· Reception, Year 1β6
Free government-funded schools for children aged 4β11. Most children start in Reception at age 4β5. The National Curriculum covers English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Art, PE, and more. Schools are managed by the local authority or operate as academies.
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Children must start school by the term after their 5th birthday
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School places are allocated by the local authority β apply annually each January for September entry
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SATs tests are taken at the end of Year 2 (age 7) and Year 6 (age 11)
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Most state schools have a uniform policy β budget approximately Β£50βΒ£100 for the initial set
Cost
Free β no tuition fees. Optional costs: school meals (~Β£3/day), trips, uniform.
How to Apply
Apply online via your local council's admissions portal between October and January for entry the following September. For in-year moves (mid-term), contact your local authority directly β they will identify schools with available places.
Ages 11β16 (or 11β18 with sixth form) Β· Year 7β11 (+ Year 12β13 if sixth form attached)
Free government-funded schools for pupils aged 11β16. Children transition from primary at age 11 (Year 7). GCSEs are studied in Year 10β11. Many secondary schools have a sixth form attached for A-Levels; others require pupils to move to a separate sixth form college at 16.
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Transfer from primary school happens automatically if your child attended a feeder school; otherwise apply via the council
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GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education) are sat at age 15β16 covering typically 8β10 subjects
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School day is usually 8:30amβ3:15pm with increasing homework expectations from Year 7 onwards
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Most schools have a uniform policy β budget Β£100βΒ£200 per child for the initial uniform set
Cost
Free β no tuition fees. Optional costs: school meals, trips, GCSE revision materials, uniform.
How to Apply
Apply via your local council between September and 31 October for Year 7 entry the following September. Offers are released on National Offer Day (1 March). Appeal if unsuccessful.
Ages 4β18 (varies β primary, secondary, or all-through) Β· Varies β can cover Reception through to Year 13
State-funded schools that operate independently of the local authority, funded directly by central government. They have more flexibility over curriculum, school hours, and term dates. The majority of UK state schools are now academies. Free schools are a type of academy, often set up by charities, universities, or community groups.
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State-funded and completely free to attend β academies cannot charge tuition fees
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May have their own specialist focus: STEM, arts, sport, faith, or language
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Subject to the same Ofsted inspections as all other state schools
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Some "all-through" academies run from Reception (age 4) to Year 13 (age 18)
Cost
Free β no tuition fees. Costs similar to other state schools: meals, uniform, trips.
How to Apply
Apply through the standard local authority admissions portal β same process as other state schools. Some academies manage their own admissions (e.g. faith academies); always check the school's own website.
Selective state schools that admit pupils based on academic ability via the 11-plus (11+) entrance exam. They are free to attend. Grammar schools exist in around 36 local authority areas in England β including Kent, Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and parts of the West Midlands. They are not available in Wales or Scotland.
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Entry requires passing the 11+ exam (verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths, and English)
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Competition is fierce β typically around 10 applicants per place in popular areas
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Many families use private tutors to prepare for the 11+ exam (cost: Β£30βΒ£80/hour)
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Register for the 11+ exam with your target school by JuneβJuly of Year 5; exam sits in September of Year 6
Cost
Free to attend β no tuition fees. Optional tutoring for 11+ prep: Β£200βΒ£400/month.
How to Apply
Register for the 11+ exam directly with the grammar school (deadlines typically JuneβJuly for Year 6 entry). After passing, apply for a school place through your local authority by 31 October. Results arrive on National Offer Day (1 March).
Ages 3β18 (varies by school) Β· Varies β many offer Nursery through to Sixth Form
Fee-paying schools funded by tuition fees rather than the government. Standards, specialisms, and fees vary widely. Class sizes are typically smaller. Some offer boarding. The Independent Schools Council (ISC) represents over 1,300 schools. Approximately 7% of UK pupils attend independent schools.
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Fees range from Β£12,000 to Β£50,000+/year; boarding adds a further Β£15,000βΒ£20,000/year
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Many schools offer bursaries (means-tested fee reductions) or academic/sports scholarships β always ask
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Common Entrance (CE) exam is used for entry to many senior independent schools at 11+ or 13+
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Some independent schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma instead of A-Levels
Cost
Β£12,000βΒ£50,000/year (day). Β£35,000βΒ£55,000/year (full boarding). Bursaries available at most schools.
How to Apply
Apply directly to the school. Most require a registration form (often with a fee), entrance exam, and interview. For popular schools, register 12β18 months in advance. Scholarships and bursaries have separate application deadlines.
Post-16 education for students preparing for university or skilled employment. Students typically study 3β4 A-Levels (or BTECs / T-Levels) over 2 years. Sixth form colleges offer a more adult environment than school sixth forms, often with a wider choice of subjects. University applications (via UCAS) are submitted in Year 13.
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A-Level subjects are chosen based on intended university degree β most Russell Group universities require AAAβABB
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UCAS university applications open in September of Year 12 and close in January of Year 13
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Many colleges offer the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) alongside A-Levels to strengthen university applications
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State sixth form colleges are free; private sixth form colleges charge fees (Β£15,000βΒ£30,000/year)
Cost
Free at state sixth form colleges (funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency for UK residents aged 16β18). Fees apply at private colleges.
How to Apply
Apply directly to the sixth form college after GCSE results in August (Year 11). Most state sixth forms require at least 5 GCSEs at grade 4+, with grade 6+ in chosen A-Level subjects.
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Scotland and π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ Wales have separate systems
Scotland uses the Curriculum for Excellence with National Qualifications (not GCSEs or A-Levels). Wales has its own Curriculum for Wales. School inspections in Scotland are carried out by HM Inspectors (HMIe); in Wales by Estyn β not Ofsted.