HOW DO I CHOOSE A UK STATE SCHOOL?
The UK state school system is for children with the right to live in the UK from the ages of 5 to 18/19.
A UK state education is fee-free. It is also none-selective, I.e. your children does not need to take an exam to secure a place. ☆
For pupils aged 5 to 11, they would attend a state primary school; for pupils aged 11 to 16, they would attend a state secondary school. For pupils aged 17-19 taking A'levels, they would either complete their education at a secondary school or attend a College of Further Education.
Choosing a school - theory vs. reality:
In theory, you can apply to any school irrespective of where you live.
The reality is that most schools are oversubscribed so the main criteria used in allocating spaces is how close you live to the school and/or do you already have a sibling at that school.
Ofsted: Please note that the UK government announced in September 2024 that they would be replacing Ofsted ratings with with School Report Cards from September 2025.
Each state school has an Ofsted rating. The 4 ratings are:
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Applying for a state school place:
In most cases, we apply via the school admission department of the local authority. Please note that depending on your address, the closest schools to you may fall within more than one local authority.
☆ an entrance exam is required to secure a place at a state grammar school.
As a British Council Education Agent, Selma Anderson us uniquely placed to help you secure a home and a school place. Working with one person to complete both tasks saves our clients time, money and stress. We have helped many clients to secure state school places at all ages across London and the UK over the last 12 years. Get in touch to discuss your needs:
https://www.andersonassociates.london/relocation
Do get in touch to discuss your move to London: selma@andersonassociates.london
Or, click here to book your Relocate to London Power Hour to discuss all your relocation needs.
British Council Reg. No. GAL/17582 https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/
School pupil working hard