​Central

Education is one of the most completely devolved powers in the UK. The main reserved power for the UK level is Research Council funding. England is centrally managed by the UK government, and academies in England receive funding through central government as opposed to local financing.

Regional

In England, there are numerous categories of schools. The coalition government (2010) introduced new provisions for "academies" and "free schools". Private independent schools are not part of the state sector; they do not have to follow the national curriculum and are inspected by either the central government inspection body (Ofsted) or the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

Scotland has a separate education system. Education Scotland, an executive agency set up in 2011, is responsible for supporting quality and improvement in all Scottish education from the early years to adult learning.

The Welsh Parliament is responsible for:

• education, vocational, social and physical training
• career services
• promotion of advancement
• application of knowledge.

In Northern Ireland, five Education and Library Boards and the Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards were replaced in 1 April 2015 by the Education Authority (EA). The EA has responsibility for education, youth and library services throughout Northern Ireland, with a headquarters and five regional offices. Despite the administrative change, there is no change at this time in services delivered, and the EA is located at the same sites as the Education and Library Boards[1].

Local

Local authorities in England are responsible for:

• ensuring the provision of primary and secondary education
• promoting high standards and ensuring fair access to educational opportunities
• providing schools and equipment for pupils
• securing "diversity in the provision of schools" and increasing "opportunities for parental choice"[2].

Local authorities in Scotland are also responsible for "early years" policies such as pre-school education.

Responsible ministries/bodies
Department for Education (for England)

Devolved governments of the United Kingdom

[1] Northern Ireland, Education Authority: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/education-authority.

[2] For the situation concerning schools in England (and Wales) in 2011 see Christine Gillie, Constituency work: school-related matters, House of Commons, SN/SP/539618 August 2011.

Sources

Department for Education

Education Scotland

Department of Education, Northern Ireland

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills

Devolved government websites:

Scotland: https://www.parliament.scot/

Wales: https://senedd.wales/en/Pages/Home.aspx

Northern Ireland: https://www.northernireland.gov.uk/