The geek's guide to types of primary school...

Academy schools

These are state schools that are directly funded by central government. Academies do not have to follow the National Curriculum. They do not charge fees. Academies are bound by the mandatory requirements of the School Admissions Code.
SchoolGuru’s Admission Calculator can help with many academy schools in Hertfordshire – and we're working on the rest.

Community schools

Community schools are state-maintained schools, run by the local authority (Hertfordshire County Council, in this case). The local authority employs the staff, owns the land and buildings, and decides on the admission criteria to apply if the school is oversubscribed. These schools all follow Hertfordshire County Council's admission rules. Community schools receive funding from the local authority, follow the National Curriculum and are regularly inspected by Ofsted.

• You can apply online or complete the paper primary application form.

SchoolGuru’s Admission Calculator can predict whether you’re likely to get into any of these schools.

Foundation schools

Foundation schools are run by their own governing body, which employs the staff and sets the admissions criteria. Each school has its own unique set of rules that will be applied if the school is oversubscribed. Land and buildings are usually owned by the governing body or a charitable foundation. The governing bodies of these schools set and publish their own rules. Foundation schools are state-maintained, as they receive funding from the local authority (Hertfordshire County Council). They all follow the National Curriculum and are regularly inspected by Ofsted.

• You should apply online or complete the paper primary application form. In addition, most foundation schools request that parents/carers complete a supplementary information form to enable the governing body of the school to assess your application correctly. Please contact the school to request a form.

SchoolGuru’s Admission Calculator can help with many Foundation schools in Hertfordshire – and we're working on the rest.

Free schools

These are state schools that are centrally funded - and all ability. They are non profit making and independent, and can be set up by a wide range of proposers (eg parents, charities, universities or businesses). These schools have even more autonomy than academies. Teachers, for example, do not necessarily need to have Qualified Teacher Status. These schools will be subject to Ofsted inspections.
SchoolGuru’s Admission Calculator can help with many free schools in Hertfordshire – and we're working on the rest.

Voluntary-aided schools

These are mainly religious or 'faith' schools - ie, Church of England, Catholic, Jewish, or have charitable status. The schools have governing bodies that employ staff, and set the admissions criteria. Each school has its own unique set of rules that will be applied if the school is oversubscribed. School buildings and land are normally owned by a charitable foundation, often a religious organisation. VA schools are state-maintained, as they receive funding from the local authority (Hertfordshire County Council). The governing body contributes to building and maintenance costs. VA schools all follow the National Curriculum and are regularly inspected by Ofsted.

• You should apply online or complete the paper primary application form. In addition, most voluntary-aided schools request that parents/carers complete a supplementary information form to enable the governing body of the school to assess your application correctly. Please contact the school to request a form.

SchoolGuru’s Admission Calculator can help with many VA schools in Hertfordshire – and we're working on the rest.

Voluntary-controlled schools

These are Church of England schools that are state-maintained and run by the local authority. As with community schools, the local authority employs the staff, and sets the admission criteria. The land and buildings are normally run by a charity, often a religious body, which also appoints some members of the governing body. In Hertfordshire, voluntary-controlled schools follow Hertfordshire County Council's admission rules. VC schools receive funding from the local authority, follow the National Curriculum and are regularly inspected by Ofsted.

• You can apply online or complete the paper primary application form.

SchoolGuru’s Admission Calculator can predict whether you’re likely to get into any of these schools.

Find out more in our Q&A section. Or if you're a member we can answer your queries.