How school admissions work, the difference between primary and secondary, free school meals, English support for new arrivals, and what state school costs.
If you have moved to the UK with children of school age, getting them into a school quickly is one of your most important early tasks. State schools in England are funded by the government and there is no tuition fee for pupils. Here is how the system works.
School ages and structure
Education in England is compulsory from age 5 to 16 (though most children start Reception class at 4). The main stages are:
- Primary school: ages 4–11, covering Reception, Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6)
- Secondary school: ages 11–16, covering Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11, leading to GCSEs)
- Sixth form / college: ages 16–18, for A-levels or vocational qualifications (optional but very common)
How to apply for a school place
School admissions are managed by your local council (local authority), not by individual schools. To apply:
- Find your local council using the postcode lookup at gov.uk/schools-admissions.
- Apply online through your council’s admissions portal. For the main intake year (e.g., Reception or Year 7), there are national deadlines - typically October/November for secondary and January for primary. If you are applying mid-year (an “in-year” transfer), contact your council directly; they handle these separately.
- You can list several school preferences (usually three to six). The council allocates places based on admission criteria - most commonly: children in care, children with special needs requiring that school, then distance from home.
- You will receive an offer. If you are unhappy with the allocation, you have the right to appeal.
State school is free
There are no tuition fees at state schools. Schools can ask for voluntary contributions for activities but cannot make them compulsory. You may need to buy a school uniform - costs vary by school, but many councils and schools offer uniform grants or second-hand uniform swaps for families on low incomes.
Free school meals
If you receive certain benefits (such as Universal Credit below a specified income threshold), your child may qualify for free school meals. All children in Reception through Year 2 in England automatically receive a free school lunch regardless of income. Apply through your local council - it is worth checking even if you are not sure you qualify, as eligibility also unlocks other school funding.
English language support for new arrivals
Schools in the UK regularly admit children who speak little or no English. Most schools have experience supporting new arrivals and are required to help your child access the curriculum. This may include in-class support, withdrawal groups for English language learning, or in larger areas, a specialist English as an Additional Language (EAL) teacher. Ask the school directly what support they offer. There is no cost to you for this support.
Term dates and holidays
The school year runs from September to July, divided into three terms separated by half-term breaks. The exact dates vary slightly by council and school - your school will publish its term dates on its website and will give you a calendar when your child starts. Children must attend on all school days during term time; taking children on holiday during term time requires permission from the headteacher and may result in a fixed penalty fine if taken without permission.
For more on how to apply and your rights during the admissions process, visit gov.uk/schools-admissions.
तपाईं स्कुल जाने उमेरका बालबालिकासहित बेलायत सर्नुभएको छ भने, उनीहरूलाई छिटो स्कुल भर्ना गर्नु तपाईंका सुरुका सबैभन्दा महत्त्वपूर्ण कामहरूमध्ये एक हो। England का राज्य विद्यालयहरू (state school) सरकारद्वारा सञ्चालित हुन्छन् र विद्यार्थीका लागि कुनै ट्युसन शुल्क हुँदैन। प्रणाली कसरी काम गर्छ, यहाँ छ।
स्कुलका उमेर र संरचना
England मा शिक्षा ५ देखि १६ वर्षसम्म अनिवार्य छ (यद्यपि अधिकांश बालबालिका ४ वर्षमै Reception कक्षा सुरु गर्छन्)। मुख्य चरणहरू:
- Primary school: ४–११ वर्ष, Reception, Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2) र Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6) समेट्ने
- Secondary school: ११–१६ वर्ष, Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9) र Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11, GCSE सम्म पुग्ने) समेट्ने
- Sixth form / college: १६–१८ वर्ष, A-level वा vocational योग्यताका लागि (ऐच्छिक तर धेरै सामान्य)
स्कुलको ठाउँका लागि कसरी आवेदन दिने
स्कुल भर्ना व्यक्तिगत स्कुलले होइन, तपाईंको स्थानीय council (local authority) ले व्यवस्थापन गर्छ। आवेदन दिन:
- gov.uk/schools-admissions मा पोस्टकोड lookup प्रयोग गरेर आफ्नो स्थानीय council खोज्नुहोस्।
- आफ्नो council को भर्ना portal मार्फत अनलाइन आवेदन दिनुहोस्। मुख्य भर्ना वर्ष (जस्तै Reception वा Year 7) का लागि राष्ट्रिय समयसीमा हुन्छन् — सामान्यतया secondary का लागि अक्टोबर/नोभेम्बर र primary का लागि जनवरी। तपाईं वर्षको बीचमा (“in-year” transfer) आवेदन दिँदै हुनुहुन्छ भने, सिधै आफ्नो council लाई सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस्; उनीहरूले यी छुट्टै हेर्छन्।
- तपाईं धेरै स्कुल प्राथमिकता (सामान्यतया तीनदेखि छ) सूचीबद्ध गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ। council ले भर्ना मापदण्डका आधारमा ठाउँ बाँड्छ — सबैभन्दा सामान्यतया: हेरचाहमा रहेका बालबालिका, त्यो स्कुल चाहिने विशेष आवश्यकता भएका बालबालिका, अनि घरबाट दूरी।
- तपाईंलाई एउटा प्रस्ताव दिइनेछ। तपाईं बाँडफाँडसँग असन्तुष्ट हुनुहुन्छ भने, तपाईंलाई appeal गर्ने अधिकार छ।
राज्य विद्यालय निःशुल्क छ
state school मा कुनै ट्युसन शुल्क हुँदैन। स्कुलले गतिविधिका लागि स्वैच्छिक सहयोग माग्न सक्छन् तर अनिवार्य गर्न सक्दैनन्। तपाईंले स्कुल पोशाक किन्नुपर्ने हुन सक्छ — खर्च स्कुलअनुसार फरक हुन्छ, तर धेरै council र स्कुलले कम आम्दानी भएका परिवारका लागि पोशाक अनुदान वा सेकेन्ड-ह्यान्ड पोशाक exchange दिन्छन्।
निःशुल्क स्कुल खाना
तपाईं केही भत्ता पाउनुहुन्छ भने (जस्तै तोकिएको आम्दानी सीमामुनिको Universal Credit), तपाईंको बच्चा निःशुल्क स्कुल खाना का लागि योग्य हुन सक्छ। England मा Reception देखि Year 2 सम्मका सबै बालबालिकाले आम्दानीको ख्याल नगरी स्वतः निःशुल्क स्कुल खाजा पाउँछन्। आफ्नो स्थानीय council मार्फत आवेदन दिनुहोस् — तपाईं योग्य हुनुहुन्छ कि निश्चित नहुँदा पनि जाँच्नु राम्रो हुन्छ, किनभने योग्यताले अन्य स्कुल अनुदान पनि खोल्छ।
नयाँ आगन्तुकका लागि अंग्रेजी भाषा सहयोग
बेलायतका स्कुलहरूले थोरै वा अंग्रेजी नबोल्ने बालबालिकालाई नियमित रूपमा भर्ना गर्छन्। अधिकांश स्कुलसँग नयाँ आगन्तुकलाई सहयोग गर्ने अनुभव हुन्छ र तपाईंको बच्चालाई पाठ्यक्रममा पहुँच दिन उनीहरू बाध्य हुन्छन्। यसमा कक्षाभित्रको सहयोग, अंग्रेजी भाषा सिकाइका लागि छुट्टै समूह, वा ठूला क्षेत्रमा English as an Additional Language (EAL) को विशेषज्ञ शिक्षक पर्न सक्छ। स्कुललाई सिधै सोध्नुहोस् कि उनीहरू के सहयोग दिन्छन्। यो सहयोगका लागि तपाईंलाई कुनै खर्च लाग्दैन।
Term का मिति र बिदा
स्कुल वर्ष सेप्टेम्बरदेखि जुलाईसम्म चल्छ, जुन half-term बिदाले छुट्याइएका तीन term मा विभाजित हुन्छ। ठ्याक्कै मिति council र स्कुलअनुसार थोरै फरक हुन्छ — तपाईंको स्कुलले आफ्नो वेबसाइटमा term का मिति प्रकाशित गर्छ र तपाईंको बच्चा सुरु गर्दा क्यालेन्डर दिन्छ। बालबालिकाले term समयमा सबै स्कुल दिन उपस्थित हुनैपर्छ; term समयमा बालबालिकालाई बिदामा लैजान headteacher को अनुमति चाहिन्छ र अनुमति बिना लगेमा fixed penalty जरिवाना लाग्न सक्छ।
कसरी आवेदन दिने र भर्ना प्रक्रियाका तपाईंका अधिकारबारे थप जानकारीका लागि, हेर्नुहोस् gov.uk/schools-admissions।
