Questions and answers
Plain answers to the questions that come up again and again when you are choosing a school. Each page gathers a cluster of related questions in one place, from what a catchment area really means to how to read a set of results. For step-by-step guides to inspections and admissions, see our guides for parents.
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Choosing a school: common questions
How to compare schools fairly, what catchment areas really mean, and what to weigh up beyond the headline grade.
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Understanding school results and league tables
What the headline results measures mean, how to read league tables with care, and why results appear for England only.
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School types and terms explained
What the labels mean: academy or community, infant or junior, Welsh-medium or Gaelic-medium, and the phases in between.