British school questions answered Published Aug. 22, 2007 By Natalie Benge Community Relations Adviser ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- If you are considering the option of sending your child to a British school here are some frequently asked questions that will help your decision-making. For detailed information on Education and Learning in Britain the Government public service website will provide you with all you need to know. You can access it by following this link www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/index.htm. How do I find information on British schools? Education is a service provided by the County Councils in England. Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire all have comprehensive websites which include a whole section on education in their area. This is a good place to start for general information. Look at www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/education/schools; www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/education/ or www.norfolk.gov.uk/education Types of School Mainstream State schools are free of charge and all children in England between the ages of 5 and 16 are entitled to a place. Most state schools admit boys and girls however some schools can be single sex. The four main types of state school all receive funding from the Local Authority, they all follow the National Curriculum and are inspected by Ofsted (www.ofsted.gov.uk). Community Schools - look to develop strong links in the community and offer their facilities for use in the community. Foundation and Trust Schools - are run by their own Governing body which sometimes forms a charitable trust with an outside business or educational partner enabling them to build resources and raise standards. Voluntary Aided Schools - Mainly religious or faith schools although anyone can apply for a place. Voluntary Controlled Schools - Similar to Voluntary Aided Schools but run by the local authority. Specialist Schools - follow the National Curriculum but focus on a particular area e.g. Sports or Technology. Independent schools - are fee-paying schools. An old term you may still hear for an independent school is a 'public' school, which is slightly misleading because only the minority attend fee-paying schools. Will I have to pay to send my child to a church school? If the church school is a State school, no fees are required. Voluntary-aided schools are run in partnership with the Roman Catholic Church and Church of England. The school governors decide which children can go to the school and how religion is taught. At what age do children start school? Children usually start Primary School at the age of 4 or 5, and many schools now have reception years for 4 year olds. Children would normally leave at the age of 11 and move onto Secondary school. British children must begin full-time education at the start of the term after their fifth birthday. In Suffolk, all children can get full-time education from the start of the term during which they become five. For example, children born in March can start full-time school in January if their parents want them to. Each County Education Office will be able to tell you when your child can start their education. Some children may be able to start schooling on a part-time basis for a term before going for full days. What is a catchment area? Most children attend the school in their immediate local area, providing there is space. This school is called the catchment school. Every school serves an area of streets or villages, but sometimes this is different for church schools. Parents have a right to ask for a place at a different school. This is called a 'preferred' school. However, it may not be possible to obtain a place if the preferred school is full - this is the overriding factor. If your catchment area school is full then the education office will find you a place at the next nearest. Schools are not able to vary the government's regulations on class sizes. When does the school year start and how is it divided up? The school year starts at the beginning of September and is divided into three 'terms' with holidays (vacations) of two weeks at Christmas and Easter and a six-week holiday in the summer. Each term is sub-divided into two 'half-terms' by a week's vacation. Do I have to register? You will need to enroll your child with a school to secure a place. You can apply for a place at a school by filling in your Local Authorities common application form, which can be completed online or in hard copy and then posted. The form will ask you to list your preferred schools often asking for more than one option incase your first choice is full. You will need to make sure you apply in good time as places can fill up quickly. Although it is possible to start mid way through a year the application process usually starts in the Autumn term prior to the September you want your child to go to school. If you miss your Local Authorities deadline for application you would be less likely to get a place at your preferred school. In order to enroll at a British school you will need to have a British address in the local area. How will my child progress through school? The National Curriculum sets out stages and core subjects your child will be taught during their time at a British School, it forms a framework to ensure that teaching and learning is balanced and consistent. It is mandatory for children in state schools to be taught the National Curriculum. Within the national curriculum there are Key Stages of learning. Key Stage 1 is Years 1 and 2, Key Stage 2 - up to Year 6, Key Stage 3 - up to Year 9 and Key Stage 4 - Years 10 and 11. Key Stage 4 is the time when external examinations are taken with a view to entering further education, either college or university. Your child's teacher will carry out regular tests on their progress in each subject they are taught as a normal part of their teaching. This helps to determine your child's performance and grading in each of the Key Stages. This assessment is used alongside National tests and at the end of each Key Stage you will receive a report to let you know what level your child is at. Testing at Key stage 1 will include ability in reading, writing, speaking, listening, maths and science. At Key stage 2 your child will also be tested on handwriting, and spelling. The final Key stage incorporates a variety of further subjects including geography, history, foreign languages, information technology, art and design, music, physical education and religious education. Will my child get free transport to school? Free bus transportation to and from school is not automatic. The head teacher may ask for a commitment from you as parents to ensure that your child is delivered to school and picked up from the school. Also in England we do not have distinctive school buses. Drivers over here are not required to stop behind a school bus but to proceed with caution, so it is essential that children are aware of the dangers of crossing the road when getting off a school bus. Will my child have to wear a school uniform? In British schools you will usually be required to wear a uniform. The top (most often a sweatshirt) has the school logo on it and can often be purchased at the school. The bottom (pants - say 'trousers')or skirt must be a certain colour but can be bought in any store. Uniform is worn most days, except 'non-uniform' days sometimes known as 'mufti days'. What are the school times? Typically the school day will commence at 9 a.m and will conclude at 3.p.m. The lunch break normally runs from noon till 1.00pm. There is normally the option of the children having a hot lunch (for a small fee), going home, or bringing in a packed lunch. Parents should follow any guidelines on the contents of packed lunches. The morning and afternoon sessions are normally broken up by a 15 minute playtime (recess). Are there places where I can find additional information? The best places to find out about the specific schools in your area is to call the Education Office in your area. If you live in Suffolk call 01284 352136, Norfolk call 01603 222593 or Cambridgeshire 01223 717985. They will want to know your full British Address including your post (zip) code along with the date of birth of your child/children. They will be able to give you the current situation on the schools in your area and will give you advice on what procedure you have to follow. The following websites are also very useful sources of information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/ http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/ http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/index.htm http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/ Your Community Relations Adviser is also here to help you for more information, call 226-3145.