Primary education is free for all children in England and is typically offered in infant schools (ages 4 to 7) and junior schools (ages 8 to 11 or 12). Secondary education is also free and typically offered in comprehensive schools, which are government-funded schools that admit students of all abilities and backgrounds. There are also selective grammar schools, which charge tuition and require students to pass an entrance exam.
Further education is not compulsory and is typically offered in sixth form colleges, colleges of further education, or other specialist institutions. Higher education is also not compulsory and is offered in universities, which award undergraduate degrees and postgraduate degrees such as master's degrees and doctorates.
The school system in the UK is managed by the Department for Education, which sets curriculum and assessment standards and provides funding to schools. However, schools are also subject to local government regulations and management, and some schools have a degree of autonomy or receive funding from private sources.