Primary education information for parents Primary schools classification

Published: 2 September 2024

There are several different types of primary school.

Community schools

Community schools are ‘non-denominational.’ In other words, they are not linked to a particular religion. The school’s governors are responsible for running the school but the Local Authority deals with the school’s admissions.

Voluntary-controlled schools and voluntary-aided schools

Voluntary schools are funded by the Local Authority but are linked to a particular religion (for example, Church of England or Catholic).

In Wirral there are 2 different types of voluntary school:

  • Voluntary-controlled schools have passed control of the school to the Local Authority but they have kept a connection with the Church of England. The school’s governors are responsible for running the school, but admission arrangements are the Local Authority’s responsibility.
  • The governors of Catholic and Church of England voluntary-aided schools are responsible both for running the school and for their own admission arrangements.

You can get more information about voluntary
schools from:

or:

Academy schools

The governors of Academy schools are responsible both for running the school and for their own admission arrangements. For more information, contact the school. The Local Authority co-ordinates preferences for places in Foundation 2 on behalf of the Academy schools.

Applications for places in the nursery class should be made directly to the Academy. The Local Authority co-ordinates preferences on behalf of all schools.