Comprehensive Schools

Comprehensives are state schoolsState schools are non-fee paying schools provided by the state. which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. The majority of state secondary schools in England are comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities.. Schools that are not comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. are grammarState grammar schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammar schools. schoolsState grammarState grammar schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammar schools. schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammarState grammar schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammar schools. schools., and some academiesAcademies are privately sponsored, but are still state schools. Previously failing schools which have closed have been reAlso known as ‘Religious Studies' (RS). RE, Religious Education, is a compulsory subject in state* schools.-launched as Academies. Some Academies are new build with extensive resources. that are specialistSpecialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges. schoolsSpecialistSpecialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges. Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialistSpecialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges., and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialistSpecialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges. area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. SpecialistSpecialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges. schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges.. Some comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. schoolsComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. select, but not according to ability.  For example, a faith school is likely to be comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities., but their admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. criteria selects according to, for example, church attendance. CommunityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school., foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools., voluntary-aided and trustTrust schools are broadly the same as foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schoolsFoundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.. They receive extra support (usually non-monetary) from a charitable trust made up of partners working together for the benefit of the school. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schoolsTrustTrust schools are broadly the same as foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schoolsFoundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.. They receive extra support (usually non-monetary) from a charitable trust made up of partners working together for the benefit of the school. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools are broadly the same as foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schoolsFoundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.. They receive extra support (usually non-monetary) from a charitable trustTrust schools are broadly the same as foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schoolsFoundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.. They receive extra support (usually non-monetary) from a charitable trust made up of partners working together for the benefit of the school. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. made up of partners working together for the benefit of the school. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trustTrust schools are broadly the same as foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schoolsFoundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.. They receive extra support (usually non-monetary) from a charitable trust made up of partners working together for the benefit of the school. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools. can all be comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. schoolsComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities..

• ComprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. schoolsComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. will always have a mix of pupils, according to ability. It could be the case that, as a parent, you choose a comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. because you want your child to learn to mix with a range of other people.
• Because of location,  catchmentA school’s catchment is the locality from where a school is most likely to take their students. areas, and over- and under-subscription, no school is truly comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities., as in it takes a genuine comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. sample of society. It is therefore important to research who attends the school.For example:

1. an over-subscribed school in a white middle class area is likely to have a majority of white middle class pupils.
2. an over-subscribed school in a large council estate, where the majority of tenants are Pakistani, is likely to have a majority of working class Pakistani pupils
3. an under-subscribed school in a white middle class area is likely to have range of pupils not from the local area, who were unable to get into their first choice school.
4. an over-subscribed Church of England school is likely to have a range of pupils not from the local area, but from local churches, if the admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. criteria requires that they attend church.

• ComprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. schoolsComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. group pupils in different ways. The majority of comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. schoolsComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. set pupils according to ability in English, mathematics and science. Some comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. schoolsComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. band pupils according to ability. The group arrangements a school adopts impacts very much on how ‘comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities.’ an experience your child will have at the school.
• GrammarState grammar schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammar schools. schoolsState grammarState grammar schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammar schools. schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammarState grammar schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammar schools. schools. select according to ability. They usually get better results than comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. schoolsComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. in terms of attainmentSchools are measured nationally in terms of progressSchools are measured nationally according to attainment and progress. Progress is how well pupils have done given their starting points. For example, pupils' progress from key stage 2 to key stage 4 is measured. and attainment. Attainment is how well pupils do according to national averages, and in national examinations, regardless of how good they were when they started the school., although not always.  They do not always get better results in terms of progressSchools are measured nationally according to attainment and progress. Progress is how well pupils have done given their starting points. For example, pupils' progress from key stage 2 to key stage 4 is measured.. GrammarState grammar schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammar schools. schoolsState grammarState grammar schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammar schools. schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammarState grammar schools are selective schools. They have an entrance test, often still called the 11 plus exam, which selects the most academic students. Relatively few areas still have grammar schools. schools. are not automatically better schools than comprehensiveComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities. schoolsComprehensives are state schools which admit a cross section of students from the communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school. with a range of academic abilities..
• Some specialistSpecialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges. schoolsSpecialistSpecialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges. Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialistSpecialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges., and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialistSpecialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges. area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. SpecialistSpecialist Schools specialise in a particular curriculum area. In the past, they had to apply to the DfES* to be designated as specialist, and they were given extra money to develop resources in their specialist area. These schools can also prioritise 10% of their places for students with a particular aptitude in the specialism, although few do. Specialist schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges. schools are often called colleges, for example, Science and Technology Colleges. select a percentage of pupils according to their ability in the specialism.

Further Information

OfstedOfsted, Office for Standards in Education, is the government body which inspectsschools, measures their success, and writes reports of their findings. All Ofsted reports can be found on their website. report

Every OfstedOfsted, Office for Standards in Education, is the government body which inspectsschools, measures their success, and writes reports of their findings. All Ofsted reports can be found on their website. report will have information about the school, informing you of the class and ethnic breakdown of the pupils. It is important to remember, however, to check the date of the OfstedOfsted, Office for Standards in Education, is the government body which inspectsschools, measures their success, and writes reports of their findings. All Ofsted reports can be found on their website. report.

LEAThe LEA, local education authority, is in charge of delivering education for the council in a borough or county.

The local authority will produce a booklet, listing the admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. criteria for each school in the authority.

School publications

The school prospectus will usually include information on whether the school is historically over-subscribed. If it does not, contact the school directly for this information.

Summary