Types of School (Pupils)
Pupil Ability
All Maintained Primary and most Maintain Secondary Schools are Comprehensives- i.g. they admit children of all academic abilities. In some places (Gloucestershire, for example) there are also Grammar Schools, which admit only children of above average ability. Children are selected for Grammar School according to their achievement in special tests taken at the age of 10/11.
Specialist Schools
- Any maintained secondary school and any maintained or non-maintained special school in England can apply for specialist status in a range of 10 subject areas, or in an area of the SEN code of practice in the case of special schools.
- The schools receive extra money to allow them to offer a wide range courses in their specialist subjects.
- Some of these are also designed High Performing Specialist Schools (HPSS).
- 80% of state-funded secondary schools currently have specialist status, and eventually all will.
- Since 2007 a small number of primary schools have also achieved specialist status.
Training Schools
These are centres for excellence in training and are expected to act as local and national advocates and advisors for education and training. They work alongside Local Authorities and Higher Education Institutions, providing training, conducting research and piloting initiatives in whole workforce reform.
Special Education Needs
1% of pupils attend Special schools, which provide for children whose severe learning, physical or emotional needs make it advisable for them to attend schools staffed by teachers who are trained to provide appropriate support. There are currently 1,400 Special Schools in the UK, some of which are independent, but majority of which are LA funded.Many children with Special Educational Needs are now being educated in mainstream schools where they receive extra support. In the most severe cases this extra help will be detailed in an individual Statement of Special Educational Needs, a legal document issued by LAs.