Foundation school
Encyclopedia
In England
and Wales
, a foundation school is a state-funded school in which the governing body has greater freedom in the running of the school than in community school
s.
Foundation schools were set up under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998
to replace grant-maintained school
s, which were funded directly by central government.
Grant-maintained schools that had previously been voluntary controlled
or county schools (but not voluntary aided
) usually became foundation schools.
Foundation schools are a kind of "maintained school", meaning that they are funded by central government via the Local Education Authority
, and do not charge fees to students.
As with voluntary controlled schools, all capital and running costs are met by the government.
As with voluntary aided school
s, the governing body employs the staff and has responsibility for admissions to the school, subject to rules imposed by central government.
Pupils follow the National Curriculum.
Some foundation schools, also called trust schools, have a foundation
or trust
that owns the land and buildings.
Otherwise the land and buildings are owned by the governing body.
The foundation usually appoints about a quarter of the school governors, as in voluntary controlled schools, but in some cases it appoints the majority of governors, as in voluntary aided schools.
Within the maintained sector in England, approximately 2% of primary schools and 15% of secondary schools are foundation schools. Almost all of these are non-faith schools.
The proportion is considerably smaller in Wales, where four primary schools and eight secondary schools have foundation status.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, a foundation school is a state-funded school in which the governing body has greater freedom in the running of the school than in community school
Community school
The term "community school" refers to types of publicly funded school in England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to a school that serves as both an educational institution and a centre of community life. A community school is both a place and a...
s.
Foundation schools were set up under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998
School Standards and Framework Act 1998
The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was the major education legislation passed by the incoming Labour government of Tony Blair.This Act:* imposed a limit of 30 on infant class sizes....
to replace grant-maintained school
Grant-maintained school
Grant-maintained schools were state schools in England and Wales between 1988 and 1998 that had opted out of local government control, being funded directly by a grant from central government...
s, which were funded directly by central government.
Grant-maintained schools that had previously been voluntary controlled
Voluntary controlled school
A voluntary controlled school is a state-funded school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in which a foundation or trust has some formal influence in the running of the school...
or county schools (but not voluntary aided
Voluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
) usually became foundation schools.
Foundation schools are a kind of "maintained school", meaning that they are funded by central government via the Local Education Authority
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
, and do not charge fees to students.
As with voluntary controlled schools, all capital and running costs are met by the government.
As with voluntary aided school
Voluntary aided school
A voluntary aided school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust owns the school buildings, contributes to building costs and has a substantial influence in the running of the school...
s, the governing body employs the staff and has responsibility for admissions to the school, subject to rules imposed by central government.
Pupils follow the National Curriculum.
Some foundation schools, also called trust schools, have a foundation
Foundation (charity)
A foundation is a legal categorization of nonprofit organizations that will typically either donate funds and support to other organizations, or provide the source of funding for its own charitable purposes....
or trust
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
that owns the land and buildings.
Otherwise the land and buildings are owned by the governing body.
The foundation usually appoints about a quarter of the school governors, as in voluntary controlled schools, but in some cases it appoints the majority of governors, as in voluntary aided schools.
Within the maintained sector in England, approximately 2% of primary schools and 15% of secondary schools are foundation schools. Almost all of these are non-faith schools.
The proportion is considerably smaller in Wales, where four primary schools and eight secondary schools have foundation status.