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Relocating to the UK is a new and exciting time for you and your family, as well as a completely fresh start for your child(ren).

Picking the right school is a very important decision you will need to make, so it is important that you are happy with everything that the school has to offer.

In the UK there are a wide variety of schools, which can make the decision-making overwhelming– but this blog is to give you an insight into all your possible options, which you can then use to decide what is best for your family.

What types of schools are there?

State schools

State community schools - are funded through the government and local authority – they are not influenced by religious or business groups but follow the national curriculum.

Academies – these schools are independent from the local authority and are run by not-for-profit academy trusts. This allows them to have a bit more freedom in the way that they run things and have the option to follow a different curriculum.

Grammar schools – the pupils that go to these schools must pass a test in order to be accepted, as they are selected due to their academic ability.

City/University technology colleges – these types of free schools are funded by the government but have an emphasis on teaching and specialising in science and technology.

Faith schools - Faith schools must follow the national curriculum but can decide what they teach in religious studies.

These types of schools may have a different entry criterion, but anyone can apply for a place in the school.

State boarding schools – the state boarding schools provide free education but will charge fees if you choose for your child to go boarding.

What age do you have to be to be able to go to these types of schools?

Children between the ages of 5 and 16 can attend these schools for free (in England).

Special needs schools

Special schools can specialise in 1 of 4 areas: • communication and interaction • cognition and learning • social, emotional and mental health • sensory and physical needs

Some schools can further specialise within these categories, for example Autistic spectrum disorders, visual impairment, or speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

What age is required to attend special schools?

The pupils must be aged 11 and older

More information on supporting children with special needs can be found here.

Private schools

Private schools, which can also be referred to as ‘independent schools’ charge fees to those who attend.

The private schools are registered with the government and are often inspected regularly to ensure they are running at a high standard.

This type of school does not have to follow the national curriculum.

What’s the age criteria for this type of school?

Children can attend from the age of 2 (pre-preparatory) to 18.

For a full guide on types of schools, please refer to the governments guide here.

School starting age and application deadlines

If your child is below the age of 5, you have the option to either send them to a nursery, or alternatively wait until the September after their 4th birthday, where they can then start attending school.

If for example your child’s 4th birthday is between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 they will usually start school in September 2022.

If you would like your child to attend nursery, you can click here and find your local nursery.

More information on starting ages and deadlines can be found here.

Finding your local schools

Depending on which part of the UK you are moving to, the process system can differ.

If you are moving to England, you can contact your local council to find: • State-funded schools in the area • Admission criteria for the schools you’re interested in looking at

Find your local council by clicking here.

Alternatively, you can view the register of schools and colleges in England by clicking here.

For Scotland, please click here to view their process.

Wales, please click here to view their process.

Northern Ireland, please click here to view their process.

Can I find out more about the quality of a school?

Yes, school’s legally must publish their performance data, Ofsted* reports and policies on their website - which gives you a good insight into how they operate, what their standards are and which areas they succeed and possibly fail in.

What is Ofsted?

Ofsted stands for ‘Office for Standards in Education’.

This educational body ensures that organisations providing education, training and care services in England are doing so at a high standard for all children and students.

Their purpose is to regularly carry out inspections and visits across the country through their 1,800+ employees.

After inspection they assess and create a report covering the achievement, quality of teaching, behaviour, safety and leadership at the school.

Click here for more information on Ofsted.

You can also find Ofsted reports for any schools, colleges and nurseries here.

How do I apply for a school?

You will need to click on the below links to apply for a place for your child, which can be found via your local council’s website.

Even if a school is linked to your child’s nursery, infant or primary school, you will still have to do this step and apply for the secondary school.

To apply for a primary school place, please click here.

To apply for a secondary school place, please click here.

Alternatively, if you are wanting to apply to a place at a private school, or for 6th form at a school or college, you will need to apply directly with that institution. (Most likely by going on their website and contacting them to find out how you can do so.)

Please note: When you fill in the form you will be asked to list the schools you are applying for, which should be written in preference order. (Listing only one school will not increase your child’s chance of being accepted).

When do I apply?

Schools have different dates that their applications open on. You can find out these dates when you click to apply for a place (using link in previous section).

When applying for a primary school place, you must apply a year before your child is due to start school.

Applications open in September and close on 15th January, therefore your child will be 3, or just have turned 4 when you make the application.

When applying for a secondary school place, you must submit the application by the 31st October.

Please note: If you miss the deadline for applications, your child is less likely to be offered a place at your desired school.

When will I find out if my child has been offered a place?

Councils will usually send offers of school places out on the 16th April for primary schools, and 1st March for secondary schools.

If either date falls on a weekend or a bank holiday, offers are sent the next working day.

Please note: You must accept the offer by the deadline provided in the offer letter. If you do not accept by this date the offer may be withdrawn and the place given to someone else.

What if I am applying after the start of the school year?

If this is the case, you will need to contact your local council to find out how you can apply for a school place after their designated date.

What happens if my child hasn’t received an offer from a school?

You can contact your local council and find out which schools have places.

There is also an option for you to put your child’s name down on a waiting list, as the school or council must keep a waiting list open for at least the first term of each school year.

Can I appeal if my child has been refused a place?

Yes, you have the option to appeal the decision with the school - however, you can only appeal once.

The letter you receive from the school with their decision will give you details on how you are able to do this.

Please click here for information from the Government on the appealing process.

What if I need more help with finding a school for my child?

If you feel like you need some support and guidance on this stage, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly experts at info@kaizenrecruitment.co.uk or call 0203 857 4106 and they will assist you.

To find out more information about finding a school for your child please click here.