School System in Milton Keynes
The school system was changed in 2005 and 2006 in order to bring it into line with the most widely adopted age ranges for schools across the country.
Children in Milton Keynes can start school in the September following their fourth birthday, and will either be admitted to an Infant School until they are seven and then attend a Junior School up to age eleven, or will be admitted to a Primary School right through to age eleven.
Transfer to secondary school is after age eleven (the end of National Curriculum Year 6). All secondary schools in Milton Keynes have sixth forms, although a number of students do transfer between schools after GCSE in order to follow the courses and combinations they seek. Some also seek admission to Milton Keynes College, the local further education institution.
Higher education is also available in Milton Keynes through a consortium of institutions - MK College, the Open University, the University of Bedfordshire and the University of Northampton. A university centre opens in Milton Keynes in September 2007.
Schools are grouped into Liaison Groups, based on the secondary schools and their local infant, junior and primary schools.
There are the following numbers of schools in Milton Keynes:
Nursery Schools – 2
Infant Schools – 34 (of which 9 have nursery classes admitting pupils aged 3+)
Junior Schools – 16
Primary Schools – 40 (of which 12 have nursery classes)
Secondary Schools – 12
There are also six Special Schools, of which four are all-age schools. These schools cater for pupils with a range of special educational, behavioural and physical needs. Some mainstream primary and secondary schools also have departments to support pupils with particular special needs.
Milton Keynes continues to grow at a fast pace. Two of the secondary schools have still to reach their final size, but by 2010 both will be able to take up to 1200 pupils aged 11-16 and 300 post-16 pupils.
In the next ten years, it is expected that at least 10 new primary schools will be required to meet demand for new school places in areas of new housing. Sites are also allocated, too, for two more secondary schools that are expected to be operating by the end of that period.
