All children in England between the ages of 5 and 18 are entitled to a free place at a state school. In Gloucestershire, children are able to attend Reception Class the September following their fourth birthday and parents will be contacted in the previous November asking them to submit a preference to a school place. Details of admissions within Gloucestershire can be found by visitng http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-admissions/
Most state schools have to follow the national curriculum. The most common ones are:
- community schools: controlled by the local council and not influenced by business or religious groups
- foundation schools: more freedom to change the way they do things than community schools
- academies: run by an governing body, independent from the local council - they can follow a different curriculum
- grammar schools: run by the council, a foundation body or a trust - they select all or most of their pupils based on academic ability and there is often an exam to get in
There are also the following types of school:
- Specialist schools
- Free schools
- Faith schools
- Academies
- City Technology Colleges
- and Private Schools
For more information about all of the above you can visit the GOV.UK website