All state schools are subject to assessment and inspection by the government department Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills).

The state-funded compulsory school system is divided into Key Stages, based upon the student's age by August 31.

This can involve continued schooling, known as sixth form, leading to A-levels or alternative Level 3 qualifications.

Education in England remained closely linked to religious institutions until the nineteenth century, although charity schools and "free grammar schools", which were open to children of any religious beliefs, became more common in the early modern period.

Nineteenth century reforms expanded education provision and introduced widespread state-funded schools.

c. 75) permitted local governments to complement the existing elementary schools in order to fill any gaps.

Some 93% of children between the ages of 3 and 18 are in education in state-funded schools without charge (other than for activities such as swimming, cultural visits, theatre visits and field trips for which a voluntary payment can be requested, and limited charges at state-funded boarding schools).

[25] All schools are legally required to have a website where they must publish details of their governance, finance, curriculum intent and staff and pupil protection policies.

These are state-funded all-ability secondary schools which charge no fees but which are independent of local authority control.

Schools judged by Ofsted to be providing an inadequate standard of education may be subject to special measures, which could include replacing the governing body and senior staff.

Some schools offer scholarships for those with particular skills or aptitudes, or bursaries to allow students from less financially well-off families to attend.

Independent schools do not have to follow the National Curriculum, and their teachers are not required or regulated by law to have official teaching qualifications.

[38] Officially referred to as "Elective Home Education", teaching ranges from structured homeschooling (using a school-style curriculum) to less-structured unschooling.

The state provides no financial support to parents who choose to educate their children outside of school.

[42] State-funded schools are obliged to teach thirteen subjects, including the core English, Mathematics and Science.

Alternatively, they can take an apprenticeship or traineeship, or can volunteer for 20 or more hours a week while undertaking part-time education or training.

[48] T Levels are technical qualifications introduced in 2020, developed in collaboration with businesses and education providers to prepare students for skilled employment, apprenticeships and higher study.

[49] Every T Level includes an industry placement with an employer focused on developing the practical and technical skills required for an occupation.

[54] League tables of universities are produced by private companies and generally cover the whole UK.

[56] Unlike most degrees, the state has control over teacher training courses, and standards are monitored by Ofsted inspectors.

Integrated master's degrees are often the standard route to chartered status for STEM professionals in England.

[67] Students admitted from the academic year 2024-25 have paid tuition fees set at a maximum of up to £9,535 per annum.

[71] In 2016, The Guardian noted that the number of disadvantaged students applying to university had increased by 72% from 2006 to 2015, a bigger rise than in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

[72] A study by the Centre for Economic Performance found that the introduction of tuition fees had "increased funding per head, educational standards, rising enrolments, and a narrowing of the participation gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students".

[74][12][75][76] The Programme for International Student Assessment coordinated by the OECD currently ranks the overall knowledge and skills of British 15-year-olds as 13th in the world in literacy, mathematics, and science with the average British student scoring 503.7, well above the OECD average of 493.

[79][80] From 1997 to 2010, the Labour government introduced city academies in areas of social and economic deprivation.

More former local authority schools, deemed inadequate or requiring improvement by inspectors, transitioned to an academy trust are now rated good or outstanding.

This new funding includes £780 million in 2020–21 to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).