Guides for parents
Short, plain-language guides to the parts of choosing a school that cause the most confusion: what inspection results mean now, when to apply, and what to do if you do not get the place you wanted.
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How Ofsted report cards work
Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. What the new report cards show and how they compare with older inspections.
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Understanding Estyn inspections in Wales
Estyn is the inspectorate for Wales. Its graded and narrative eras, its follow-up categories, and why we link to the report rather than reproduce it.
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Understanding school inspections in Scotland
How Education Scotland evaluates schools against How good is our school?, the six-point scale, and where to read the full inspection findings.
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School admissions: key dates for parents
When to apply for a primary or secondary place, when offers arrive, and how the timetables differ across England, Wales and Scotland.
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School admission appeals: the basics
Your right to appeal a refused place, how the hearing works and why infant class appeals are different.
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Where our data comes from
Every source we use, how often each updates, and the rules behind our school comparisons and rankings.