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Types of schools in Birmingham

There are various types of state–funded schools in Birmingham. Birmingham Local Authority coordinates applications for Year 7 and Year 10 places in all state–funded schools in Birmingham, regardless of the type of school or academy.

Voluntary aided and foundation schools, academies and free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools are their own admissions authorities. This means they set their own admission arrangements, including their own oversubscription criteria to decide who should be offered places if a school receives more applications than it has places to offer.

Community Schools

Birmingham City Council is the admission authority for community schools in Birmingham. The Local Authority ensures that community schools adhere to the published admission arrangements, manages the waiting lists for these schools and arranges independent appeal hearings on behalf of community schools.

Foundation Schools

The Governing Body is the admission authority at each foundation school. The Governing Body is responsible for setting the admission arrangements, including the oversubscription criteria, although the Local Authority coordinates the offer of places in Year 7.

Voluntary Aided Schools

These are schools that have been set up by voluntary bodies, such as churches or foundations. The Governing Body at each voluntary aided school is its own admission authority and is responsible for setting the admission arrangements, including the oversubscription criteria, although the Local Authority coordinates the offer of places in Year 7.

Grammar Schools

These are schools (which may be academies, community, foundation or voluntary aided schools) that select pupils by reference to their academic ability. They co-ordinate the secondary transfer process with the Local Authority and tests are held in the Autumn Term of Year 6. Be aware that children older than 11 years may not register for the tests, but parents or carers can still contact these schools about their admission arrangements outside the Year 7 transfer process. Read more about Grammar Schools in Birmingham.

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