Types of School
for Pre-School, Primary and Secondary School ages in the UK
Use the information below to help identify the best option from the various types of school for your child(ren) →
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Types of Pre-School
For ages 3 (or younger) to 4/5 (non-mandatory)
Also referred to as Nursery Schools, Pre-Schools focus intently (but not solely) on academic learning, preparing children for the transition to Primary School. Their key features are as follows:
The point of entry is typically around 3 years old
Pre-Schools cater until the summer prior to child’s entry into Primary School at age 4/5, i.e.:
Reception (England)
Year 1 (Northern Ireland)
Primary 1 (Scotland)
Reception (Wales)
Most Pre-Schools are directly connected to Primary Schools
Places at state-funded Pre-Schools are not guaranteed
Pre-Schools follow the EYFS curriculum (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Pre-School opening times are usually regular school hours throughout school term time
Also referred to as Nursery Schools, Pre-Schools focus intently (but not solely) on academic learning, preparing children for the transition to Primary School. Their key features are as follows:
The point of entry is typically around 3 years old
Pre-Schools cater until the summer prior to child’s entry into Primary School at age 4/5, i.e.:
Reception (England)
Year 1 (Northern Ireland)
Primary 1 (Scotland)
Reception (Wales)
Most Pre-Schools are directly connected to Primary Schools
Annual tuition fees are typically £6,000 to £20,000, depending on the institution
Pre-Schools follow the EYFS curriculum (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Pre-School opening times are usually regular school hours throughout school term time
A Day Nursery’s primary endeavour is to provide essential childcare services for working parents. Their key features are as follows:
The point of entry is typically around 3 years old, though some cater for children from 6 months old
Day Nurseries cater until the summer prior to child’s entry into Primary School at age 4/5, i.e.:
Reception (England)
Year 1 (Northern Ireland)
Primary 1 (Scotland)
Reception (Wales)
Day Nurseries are mostly not connected to Primary Schools
The state provides 15 hours per week, typically 3 hours per day, Monday to Friday
Places at state-funded Day Nurseries are not guaranteed
Tuition fees for additional hours are typically £XXXX to £XXXX per xxxxx, depending on the age of child
Day Nurseries follow the EYFS curriculum (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Day Nursery opening times are varied, often designed to work around office hours
A Day Nursery’s primary endeavour is to provide essential childcare services for working parents. Their key features are as follows:
The point of entry is typically around 3 years old, though some cater for children from 6 months old
Day Nurseries cater until the summer prior to child’s entry into Primary School at age 4/5, i.e.:
Reception (England)
Year 1 (Northern Ireland)
Primary 1 (Scotland)
Reception (Wales)
Day Nurseries are mostly not connected to Primary Schools
Annual tuition fees are typically £6,893 to £13,700, depending on the institution, the age of child and duration of usage
Day Nurseries follow the EYFS curriculum (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Day Nursery opening times are varied, often designed to work around office hours
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Types of Primary School
For ages 4/5 to 10/11 (mandatory)
Some Prep Schools cater for a further two years.
State-funded Primary Schools are usually conveniently located and easy to access by entire communities. Their key features are as follows:
Entrance is non-selective, and there are no entrance exams
Annual tuition fees do not apply
The point of entry is between 4 and 5 years old:
Reception (England)
Year 1 (Northern Ireland)
Primary 1 (Scotland)
Reception (Wales)
The final Primary year is at age 10/11:
Year 6 (England)
Year 7 (Northern Ireland)
Primary 7 (Scotland)
Year 6 (Wales)
Every child in the UK is guaranteed a Primary School place
State-funded Primary Schools are required to follow the curriculum
The academic standard of the student cohort can be broad and unpredictable
Independent Pre-Prep Schools’ primary endeavour is to prepare students for 7+ entrance exams set by selective Prep Schools. Their key features are as follows:
Entrance is often selective, by process of entrance exams, but it depends on the institution
Annual tuition fees for Pre-Prep Schools are typically £5,000 to £20,000, depending on the school
The point of entry is between 4 and 5 years old:
Reception (England)
Year 1 (Northern Ireland)
Primary 1 (Scotland)
Reception (Wales)
The final Pre-Prep year is at age 6/7:
Year 2 (England)
Year 3 (Northern Ireland)
Primary 3 (Scotland)
Year 2 (Wales)
Pre-Prep Schools are often connected to Prep Schools
Pre-Prep Schools are not required to follow the curriculum
The academic standard of the student cohort is usually similar, at a level desired by the school and determined by the barriers to entrance set by the school
Independent Prep Schools’ primary endeavour is to prepare students for Common Entrance Exams (including 11+ and 13+) for selective Secondary schools. Their key features are as follows:
Entrance is usually selective, by process of entrance exams
Annual tuition fees for Prep Schools are typically £5,000 to £20,000, depending on the school
The point of entry is between 7 and 8 years old:
Year 3 (England)
Year 4 (Northern Ireland)
Primary 4 (Scotland)
Year 3 (Wales)
The final Prep year is at age 10/11:
Year 6 (England)
Year 7 (Northern Ireland)
Primary 7 (Scotland)
Year 6 (Wales)
However, some schools cater for a further two years, taking students through to Year 9 of Secondary School, often by means of the 13+ entrance exam
Prep Schools are sometimes directly connected to a Secondary School
Prep Schools are not required to follow the curriculum
The academic standard of the student cohort is usually similar, at a level desired by the school and determined by the barriers to entrance set by the school
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Types of Secondary School
For ages 10/11 to 15/16 (mandatory)
Some Secondary Schools provide a further two years of Sixth Form (non-mandatory)
State-funded Secondary Schools are usually conveniently located and easy to access by entire communities. Their key features are as follows:
Entrance is non-selective, and there are no entrance exams
Annual tuition fees do not apply
The point of entry is between 10 and 11 years old:
Year 7 (England)
Year 8 (Northern Ireland)
Secondary 1 (Scotland)
Year 7 (Wales)
The final Secondary year is at age 15/16:
Year 11 (England)
Year 12 (Northern Ireland)
S6 (Scotland)
Year 11 (Wales)
However, many schools also provide a further two years of Sixth Form, taking students through to age 17/18
Every child in the UK is guaranteed a Secondary School place
State-funded Secondary Schools are required to follow the curriculum
The range of academic standard is generally broad
State-funded Secondary Schools are usually conveniently located and easy to access by entire communities. Their key features are as follows:
Entrance is usually selective, by process of entrance exams
Annual tuition fees do not apply
The point of entry is between 10 and 11 years old:
Year 7 (England)
Year 8 (Northern Ireland)
Secondary 1 (Scotland)
Year 7 (Wales)
The final Secondary year is at age 15/16:
Year 11 (England)
Year 12 (Northern Ireland)
Secondary 12 (Scotland)
Year 11 (Wales)
However, many schools also provide a further two years of Sixth Form, taking students through to age 17/18
State-funded Secondary Schools are required to follow the government-specified curriculum
The range of academic standard is generally narrow
Independent schools often have excellent facilities for extra-curricular activities. Their key features are as follows:
Entrance is usually selective, by process of entrance exams
Annual tuition fees for Independent Secondary Schools are typically £12,000 to £35,000, depending on the school
The point of entry is between 10 and 11 years old:
Year 7 (England)
Year 8 (Northern Ireland)
Secondary 1 (Scotland)
Year 7 (Wales)
The final Secondary year is at age 15/16:
Year 11 (England)
Year 12 (Northern Ireland)
Secondary 12 (Scotland)
Year 11 (Wales)
However, many schools also provide a further two years of Sixth Form, taking students through to age 17/18
Independent Secondary Schools are not required to follow the government-specified curriculum
The range of academic standard depends on the entrance criteria