List of 2893 Best Schools in England (2025 Fees)

A country in the British Isles, England is a world-renowned center for education and the birthplace of the literary genius, William Shakespeare. It is home to two of the world’s best universities, Oxford University and the University of Cambridge. England is known for its excellent institutions for learning, which offer English-taught programs. Thus, students from all over the world have an easy transition when attending schools in England. Likewise, England is where the National Curriculum of England or the UK Curriculum originated. This British country in the United Kingdom has successfully conquered many milestones in education. Schools in England provide a nurturing home to students, both local and international.

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Facts about Schools in England

  • Most parents in England send their kids to state schools rather than private schools.
  • Children of families from the EEA (European Economic Area) are entitled to enroll in state schools in England. Otherwise, they can explore independent (private) schools, or wait for their visa status to be evaluated.
  • Schools in England, i.e. state schools, are managed by the local governments. Generally, the school system in the country is overseen by the Department of Education.
  • Children who are aged 3 to 4 are entitled to receive free 570 hours of early years education or nursery. Should parents opt to send their kids to a nursery at age 2, they will be the ones to shoulder the cost.
  • Generally, children in England receive free state education from age 4.
  • The school year in England usually starts in the first week of September and ends in August of the following year. Every school year consists of three terms, with 13 weeks per term.
  • Students have a holiday break during Easter (2 weeks) and during the summer (6 weeks).
  • Securing a slot for a student at schools in England is an intensive task for parents. Most parents consider school choices when deciding their families’ place of residence, since many schools consider the location of each student as a factor for admission.
  • Schools in England follow the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) as their main school-leaving qualification. The GCSE examinations are taken by students in Year 11 in May or June.

Education System in England

The education system in England is one of the world’s best known formats of education. In England, children are required to attend school by the time they turn 5 years old. They are given free state education at this stage, which is called “reception”, and follows the UK EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum. Upon completion of the reception stage, children enroll in Key Stage 1, which is the first stage of the British Curriculum. The curriculum is divided into 4 stages, according to a student’s age: Key Stage 1 (for infants from age 5 to 7), Key Stage 2 (for juniors from age 7 to 11), Key Stage 3 (for ages 11 to 14), and Key Stage 4 (for ages 14 to 16). Primary education consists of Key Stages 1 and 2, whereas secondary education is divided into Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. Further education, which is optional in England, is from age 16 and above. Once students finish the four key stages at age 16, they are required to take the GCSE examination or other Level 1 or 2 qualifications.

Types of Schools in England

England has several school types which cater to every parent’s goal and financial capability. Below are detailed descriptions  of the types of schools in England.

  • State Schools

State schools are publicly funded schools in England, which are strictly evaluated by the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted). Generally, these schools are mandated to implement the UK Curriculum or the National Curriculum of England. State schools are classified into several subtypes:

  • Community Schools

Community schools, formerly known as country schools, are institutions which are managed by local councils rather than religious groups or business associations.

  • Foundation Schools

These schools are known to have more freedom in the way they operate, unlike community schools which strictly need to adhere to all state requirements. As the name implies, these schools are run by foundations.

  • Voluntary Aided Schools

Similar to foundation schools, voluntary aided schools enjoy more freedom as compared to community schools. These schools are funded by the government and a foundation or trust. Usually, the trust owns the school buildings.

  • Voluntary Controlled Schools

Voluntary controlled schools differ from voluntary aided schools in such a way that they enjoy less freedom than the latter. The foundation or trust funds and operates the schools.

  • Academies

Academies are managed by an independent governing body and can implement a different curriculum.

  • Grammar Schools

Grammar schools are known to have a selective admission process, which is primarily based on students’ academic abilities.

  • Faith Schools

Faith schools follow a specific religious order. Thus, they have religious requirements for student admissions. However, faith schools also accept students from non-faith backgrounds.

  • Free Schools

Free schools are not run by local councils, which give them the freedom to control their own staff and terms. These schools are managed by charities, independent schools, parents, or businesses. However, they are still funded by the government.

  • Special Schools

These schools cater to students with special needs, i.e. physical disabilities or learning difficulties.

  • Boarding Schools

Boarding schools offer free education, but they charge a fee for student boarding.

  • Independent Schools

Independent schools are also known as private schools, as they do not receive funding from the government. Instead, independent schools charge fees to its enrollees. These schools are not mandated to follow the National Curriculum of England. They have the liberty to choose which type of curriculum is best for the learners. Nonetheless, these schools have to register with the government. Approximately 7% of students in England attend independent or private schools.

  • International Schools

International schools are for non-English-speaking students in England. However, these schools are also popular among English families, which look for a wide variety of curriculum choices. International schools in England use curricula, such as the American curriculum, International Baccalaureate curriculum, and the French curriculum.

Sending your child to a school in England will give them the education they deserve. Explore schools in England today!

Below is a comprehensive list of all schools in England (Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Cambridge, Canterbury, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Chester, Chichester, Coventry, Derby, Durham, Ely, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Kingston upon Hull, Lancaster, Leeds, , Leicester, Lichfield, Lincoln, Liverpool, City of London, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Ripon, Salford, Salisbury, Sheffield, Southampton, St Albans, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, Truro, Wakefield, Wells, City of Westminster, Winchester, Wolverhampton, Worcester, York). Edarabia strives to offer the latest updates, helping you find the best schools in England with information on tuition fees, accreditation details, videos, photos, location map, community reviews and ratings.

Edarabia showcases all private schools in England through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.

Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in England tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.

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CNY 68

CNY 876,400

Norman Pannell School
  • Address: Brownbill Bank
  • Curriculum: British
Normanhurst School
  • Address: 68-74 Station Road, North Chingford
  • Founded: 1923
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, GCSE, British
  • GBP 12,263
Inquire
North Birmingham Academy
  • Address: 395 College Road
  • Curriculum: British
North Bridge House - Senior Canonbury
  • Address: 6-9 Canonbury Place
  • Founded: 1939
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, GCSE, British
  • GBP 24,614
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North Ealing Primary School
  • Address: Pitshanger Lane
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, British
North Harringay Primary School
  • Address: Falkland Road
  • Curriculum: Special Needs, British
North Liverpool Academy
  • Address: 120 Heyworth Street
  • Curriculum: British
North London Collegiate School
  • Address: Canons Drive, Edgware, Middlesex
  • Founded: 1850
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, British
North London Rudolf Steiner School
  • Address: 1 - 3 The Campsbourne
  • Founded: 1985
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, British
  • GBP 6,038
Inquire
North Primary School
  • Address: Meadow Road Southall Middlesex
  • Founded: 1851
  • Curriculum: British
North Ridge High School
  • Address: Alworth Road, Blackley
  • Curriculum: British
North West London Jewish Day School
  • Address: 180 Willesden Lane
  • Founded: 1945
  • Curriculum: British
Northcote Primary School
  • Address: Cavendish Drive, Walton, Merseyside
  • Founded: 1886
Northenden Community School
  • Address: Bazley Road, Northenden
  • Founded: 1910
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, British
Northolt High School
  • Address: Eastcote Lane, Northolt, Middlesex
  • Curriculum: GCSE, British
Northside Primary School
  • Address: 2 Albert Street, North Finchley
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, French, British
Northview Primary School
  • Address: Northview crescent, neasden
  • Curriculum: British
Northway Primary and Nursery School
  • Address: Northway, Wavertree, Merseyside
  • Curriculum: British
Northway School
  • Address: The Fairway, Mill Hill
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, British
Northwood College for Girls
  • Address: Maxwell road Northwood Middlesex
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, IGCSE, GCSE, British
  • GBP 16,299
Inquire
Northwood School
  • Address: Pinner Road, Northwood, Middlesex
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, British
Notre Dame Catholic College
  • Address: 180 Great Homer Street
  • Founded: 1869
  • Curriculum: British
Notting Hill and Ealing High School
  • Address: 2 Cleveland Road
  • Founded: 1873
  • Curriculum: British
  • GBP 6,561
Inquire
Nower Hill High School
  • Address: George V Avenue, Pinner, Middlesex
  • Founded: 1929
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, British
Oak Farm Primary School
  • Address: Windsor Avenue Hillingdon Uxbridge
  • Curriculum: British
2025-11-01T00:01:01+04:00