Parental choice in education
Parents can express a preference about which school their child attends in their catchment area. But local authorities (or education authorities in Scotland) don’t have to agree with that preference, particularly if a school is oversubscribed.
If your child is not offered a place at your preferred school, you can ask the local authority, or education authority, to explain the reasons and discuss your options with them. If you are still not satisfied, you can appeal (this means taking formal action).
Find out more about how to appeal in England and Wales from the government website Directgov.
Find out more about choosing a school and your rights in Scotland from the Scottish government website.
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Finding out about different schools and comparing them
Schools must publish details of what they teach, what their recent performance in tests and examinations has been, term dates for the coming year, school hours and their policies on issues like discipline, school uniform, homework and additional support needs.
Schools must also produce a policy statement on developing pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural values, and a separate equal opportunities policy. In addition, they must produce a race equality policy, which must be easy to find if it is part of the equal opportunities policy.
All of this information can help parents make choices about which school they would like their child to go to.
Find information on different schools in England and Wales and in Scotland.
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Can schools select what pupils they accept?
In some circumstances, yes. All schools (including independent schools) should publish their admissions policy and explain how they decide which pupils to accept. For example, many schools have admissions policies that give preference to children whose older brothers and sisters have already attended the school.
- Faith schools may give preference to children who follow that faith.
- Primary schools maintained by local authorities (or education authorities in Scotland) cannot select children on the grounds of academic ability.
- Independent primary schools are allowed to select children in line with their published admission policy.
Some secondary schools in England select wholly or partly on the grounds of academic ability, or ability in a particular subject area, such as music. In Scotland, there are six centres of excellence, which select according to ability in music, sport or dance. A school that is partly selective must not keep places empty if it does not have enough pupils of the required standard.
This does not apply to independent schools.No school is allowed to discriminate in their admission policies on the grounds of race. Co-educational schools are not allowed to discriminate on the grounds of sex. However, single sex schools are allowed to discriminate by admitting either boys or girls only.
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Changing schools
Usually, parents make a choice about which school their child should go to when he or she starts primary or secondary school. However, you can ask the local authority or school for a place for your child at a different school at any time. This includes if you move home.
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Education at home
Parents are allowed to educate their children at home instead of sending them to school. But if parents choose to do this, the local authority (or education authority in Scotland) must make sure that this education is of good quality. If you want to teach your child at home, you should contact your local authority or education authority to discuss this.
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