Voluntary controlled school

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In a voluntary controlled school is a state-funded school in England and Wales in which a foundation or trust (usually a Christian denomination) has some formal influence in the running of the school.

Contents 1 History 2 Characteristics 3 See also 4 References

[edit] History

Prior to the Education Act 1944, voluntary schools were those associated with a foundation, usually a religious group. That Act imposed higher standards on school facilities, and offered voluntary schools a choice in funding the costs this would incur.

• Voluntary controlled schools would have all their costs met by the state, but would be controlled by the Local Education Authority.
• Voluntary aided schools would be only partly funded by the state, with the foundation responsible for 50% of capital works but having greater influence over the school.

The Roman Catholic Church chose to retain control of its schools, while more than half of Church of England schools became voluntary controlled.^[1]

[edit] Characteristics

Voluntary controlled schools are a kind of "maintained school", meaning that they are funded by central government via the local authority, and do not charge fees to students. The land and buildings are typically owned by a charitable foundation, which also appoints about a quarter of the school governors. However, the Local Education Authority employs the school's staff and has primary responsibility for the school's admission arrangements. Pupils follow the National Curriculum.^[2][3][4]

Within the maintained sector in England, approximately 15% of primary schools are voluntary controlled, almost all of them associated with the Church of England. Only 3% of secondary schools are voluntary controlled, of which about half are Church of England schools.^[5]

[edit] See also

• Education in England
• Education in Wales

[edit] References

1. ^ Lawson, John; Silver, Harold (1973). A Social History of Education in England. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-43251-1. 
2. ^ "Categories of Schools - Overview". Governornet. Department for Children, Schools and Families. 2003-09-05. http://www.governornet.co.uk/cropArticle.cfm?topicAreaId=1&contentId=548. 
3. ^ "The Composition of Schools in England". Department for Children, Schools and Families. June 2008. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b000796/TheCompositionOfSchoolsInEnglandFinal.pdf. 
4. ^ Types of School, Citizens Advice Bureau.
5. ^ "Pupil Characteristics and Class Sizes in Maintained Schools in England: January 2008 (Provisional)". Department for Children, Schools and Families. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000786/.