A minority of local education authorities in England have a system of lower, middle schoolsMiddle schools take students from Years 5 to 8*,age 9 to 13. Some boroughs or counties have a system where all students go from a primary or first*
school, to a middle school to a high school at the age of 13. A few boroughs or counties have a junior and secondary school system in the main, with a
few middle schools. and high schools.
How does this affect your choice of school?
A middle school might be more friendly and accessible than a secondary school, but it is likely to have fewer 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. resources. A high school provides your child with similar opportunities to a secondary school.
Learn more about middle, high schools
