UK Schooling Options

School years can be the most important in a person's life. In the United Kingdom, pupils have a number of different schooling options and they can start to attend from the age of four.

Researching on the internet will show you that there are lots of results for 'schools UK', but not all of them will be suitable for your child. Look into the different types of UK educational establishments and when you have found something to suit, look within that category to find the best one for your needs.

Most pupils in the UK are taught in the free state schools. There are different types in the state system - those controlled by the local education authority (LEA), those controlled by governors, and 'faith' schools. Faith schools are supported by the different church denominations affiliated to them. Religion plays a large part in them.

Sometimes a primary school will naturally feed into a state secondary but this may not be the best option for your child. Moving your child to a different school may not be easy if competition is great and some parents will even move house to ensure that they have the correct postcode to get their child into their school of choice.

Some state schools, known as grammar schools, require pupils to pass an entrance exam. It can depend on the county that the school is in, as some counties do not operate this system. The exam used to determine whether or not a pupil will be accepted into grammar school is known as the 11+.

Alternative schools are those with a different philosophy such as Steiner schools. They really suit certain pupils but are not good for others. Research the philosophy of the school and see if it fits with the ethos of you and your child.

Private schools (also confusingly known as public schools) are not state funded and therefore set their own hiring and firing rules for staff and set their own syllabus and enrollment requirements for pupils. They are generally thought of as good schools because of the quality of teaching and small class sizes. The downside can be the fees, although scholarships are available, as is financial assistance.

One option is to home-school your child. This can be good if you have the time and ability to devote to your child but a drawback can be that your child lacks social skills from lack of interaction with their peers. Home-schooling is more common in younger children than older ones.

Whether you decide to send your child to one of the different types of state school, an alternative school, or public school you will need consider a few things before making your final choice of school. First of all you should consider the needs of your child and also the family as a whole. A school close to home may be preferable as long as the quality of education is high. Try a geographical web search such as 'school Dorset' to see what comes up and check out the Ofsted results of the listed schools.

Some schools will excel in certain areas such as sports or music and this may suit a child who has leanings towards these areas. Consider the size of the school too, as small class sizes will be beneficial, and a small sized school may suit a quieter child.

Whatever school you choose in the UK, the chances are that if you have done your research, your child will love it and thrive in the school environment, setting them up well for their life ahead.

By Rebecca Twigg.

Looking for schools UK? ISBI have an online search facility to help you choose a school by location or by facilities. For a school Dorset, try Shaftesbury School.

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