School Type

Understanding School Type

School type indicates the governance and funding structure of the school. Different types have varying degrees of autonomy over curriculum, admissions, and staffing.

Main School Types

Academy Converter: Previously successful maintained schools that chose to become academies. They have more freedom over curriculum and pay but must follow the national curriculum core.

Academy Sponsor Led: Schools that were underperforming and were required to become academies under a sponsor (often a multi-academy trust). These schools have undergone significant change.

Community School: Traditional local authority maintained schools. The council employs staff, owns buildings, and sets admissions policies.

Voluntary Aided: Usually religious schools where a foundation (often a church) contributes to building costs and has significant influence over admissions, curriculum, and staffing.

Voluntary Controlled: Religious schools where the local authority has more control than in VA schools, though the religious foundation still influences the school’s character.

Foundation School: Maintained schools where the governing body is the employer and owns the buildings, giving more autonomy than community schools.

Free School: New schools set up by groups including parents, teachers, charities, or businesses. They have academy-level freedoms but were created specifically rather than converted.

What This Means for Parents

School type affects:

• Admissions: Some schools can set their own criteria
• Curriculum: Academies have more flexibility
• Character: Faith schools have religious elements

However, school type matters less than quality. Outstanding schools exist across all types, and a good community school may suit your child better than a struggling academy.