CHUKUS (UK): Ch. 10 Education (History; Structure; financing; State/Private)

State education still is a political issue and British people are divided in their opinion. But education is still free and compulsory for children (age 5-18). School-leaving age was raised from 16 in 2014. Schools are mainly mixed-sex and some 93-94% of children receive free education in primary and secondary schools. But, still remnants of the 1944 Act in diversity. State schools broadly consist of non-denominational schools, former grant-maintained schools and voluntary (faith) schools. LEAs retain decentralized power to organize school planning, but financed by central government. State schooling before 5 is not compulsory and no requirements for LEAs to organize it. Young children can go to early education and child care, although there is concern about lack of opportunities and the expenses. Pupils attend primary school at 5, move to secondary at 11 until the age of 18. 87% goes to comprehensive schools, with little grammar schools left (grammar schools have top ratings though). Comprehensive school pupils are of mixed abilities and come from variety of social backgrounds. To encourage diversity, governments established secondary-level, state-funded city technology colleges (science, technology and maths). There are also secondary-level specialist schools, concentrated on sciences, modern foreign languages, arts or sports. University technical colleges were also introduced as part of the academies programme (secondary schools with technically courses, supported by universities). Labour also tried to increase the number of voluntary schools organized by faith (e.g. Church of England, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh)