State-funded schools (England)

State-funded schools in England are educational institutions that receive their primary funding from the government, meaning they are free at the point of use for parents and students. These schools cater to children aged from 4 or 5 (reception year) up to 16 or 18 (sixth form).

The state-funded sector encompasses several types of schools, each with its own governance structure and admissions policies:

• Community Schools (formerly Local Authority maintained schools): These schools are maintained and controlled by the local authority (LA). The LA employs the staff and owns the land and buildings, and the school follows LA admissions policies.
• Foundation Schools: Foundation schools have more autonomy than community schools. They have a governing body that employs the staff and is responsible for admissions. They often have a charitable foundation that owns the land and buildings.
• Voluntary Aided (VA) Schools: These are usually faith schools, often linked to the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church, but can also be of other religious denominations. The governing body employs the staff, sets admissions criteria (often prioritizing children of the faith), and the land and buildings are usually owned by a religious organisation. The governing body contributes to the capital costs of the school.
• Voluntary Controlled (VC) Schools: Similar to VA schools, VC schools are usually faith schools. However, the local authority employs the staff, and the LA controls admissions. The religious organisation typically owns the land and buildings.
• Academies: Academies are state-funded schools that are independent of local authority control. They are funded directly by central government and run by academy trusts. They have greater freedoms over the curriculum, staffing, and school day. Academies can be sponsored by businesses, charities, or other schools (known as multi-academy trusts). There are several sub-types, including sponsored academies (usually replacing underperforming schools) and converter academies (high-performing schools that choose to become academies).
• Free Schools: Free Schools are a type of academy that are set up by groups such as parents, teachers, charities, or businesses. They are typically smaller than other academies and can be set up in response to local demand for a particular type of school.

All state-funded schools are inspected by Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills). Ofsted inspects schools on a regular basis and publishes reports on their performance.

The curriculum followed by state-funded schools is largely determined by the National Curriculum, which sets out the subjects that must be taught at each key stage. However, academies and free schools have greater flexibility to design their own curriculum.

Admissions to state-funded schools are generally based on catchment areas, although other factors such as siblings already attending the school, faith affiliation (for faith schools), and special educational needs may also be considered. The local authority manages admissions for many schools, while academies and free schools manage their own admissions, following the national admissions code.