introduction to education

Question 1

what are state schools?

Answer 1

schools which are funded by the government

Question 2

what are community schools / maintained schools?

Answer 2

• funded by the local
  authority
• not influenced by business or religious groups
• follow the national curriculum

Question 3

what are foundation and voluntary schools?

Answer 3

*funded by local authority but have more freedom to change the way they do things
*sometimes supported by representatives from religious groups

Question 4

what are city technology colleges?

Answer 4

• all-ability secondary schools based in urban centres and geared towards science, maths, technology and preparing students for the world of work.
• 15 City Technology Colleges were created, all but 3 have converted to academies.

Question 5

what are grammar schools?

Answer 5

• state secondary schools that are free to attend
• select pupils by examination taken by children at age 11, known as the “11-plus”.
• There are only about 163 grammar schools in
  England.

Question 6

what are academy schools?

Answer 6

• state-funded schools directly funded by the Department for Education but independent of local authority control.
• self-governing non-profit charitable trusts.
• don’t have to follow National Curriculum but do have to ensure their curriculum is broad and balanced, and it includes core subjects of maths and English.

Question 7

what are free schools

Answer 7

• funded by government but not run by local
  authority.
• more control over how they do things.
• ‘all ability’ schools, so can not use academicselection processes.
• run on a not-for-profit basis and can be set up by groups like, charities, universities, independent schools, community and faith groups, teachers, parents, businesses.

Question 8

what are faith schools?

Answer 8

• have to follow the national curriculum, but can choose what they teach in religious studies.
• May have different admissions criteria and staffing policies but anyone can apply for a place.

Question 9

what are single sex schools?

Answer 9

schools which select based on gender. They are
100% Male or Female in the student body, although many become co-Ed at 6th form level

Question 10

what is a state boarding school?

Answer 10

*where you pay for boarding and the education is free.
*Government pays for the education
*around 40 State Boarding Schools in the UK.

Question 11

what are private schools?

Answer 11

fee paying schools

Question 12

what are private/ independent schools?

Answer 12

• Schools where students pay fees to attend,
• can be day schools or boarding schools but
  independent of the
  regulations and conditions
  which apply to state funded schools.
• may choose to
  follow some regulations such as Curriculum or type of examinations they choose but they don’t have to

Question 13

what are public schools?

Answer 13

• long established
• fee paying
• require an entrance exam to attend.

Question 14

what are international schools?

Answer 14

-Schools which cater to the international community
- follow an international curriculum such as the Internal Baccalaureate, International Primary Curriculum and iGCSE’s

Question 15

what is alternate provision schools?

Answer 15

Schools for those that are
unable to attend main
stream education

Question 16

what are pupil referral units?

Answer 16

• a type of school that caters for children who can’t attend a mainstream school.
• Pupils are often referred if they need greater care and support than their school can provide.
• Children who attend a PRU might be:
• Permanently excluded for behaviour reasons,
• Experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties,
• Experiencing severe bullying.
• Pregnant or young mothers.

Question 17

what are special education schools?

Answer 17

• school catering for students who have special educational needs due to learning difficulties, physical disabilities or behavioral problems.
• may be specifically designed, staffed and resourced to provide appropriate special education for children with
  additional needs.

Question 18

what is homeschooling?

Answer 18

• Learning outside of the public or private school environment.
• For most families, their “schooling” involves being out and about each day, learning from the rich resources available in their community, and through interactions with other families who home school.