School Governance Types Explained
Not all schools are run the same way. Understanding your school's governance type helps you know who is in charge, who sets the rules, and who you can hold accountable.
Who actually runs the school?
In England, schools are funded by the state but can be run in very different ways. The governance type affects who controls admissions, who employs the staff, whether the school follows the national curriculum, and who is ultimately accountable. As a parent, knowing this helps you understand how decisions are made.
The main types of school governance
Each governance type has different rules about who controls the school, who owns the land, and who employs the staff. Here's what you need to know about each.
Community School
Run by the local authority (council). The LA employs the staff, owns the land, and controls admissions. These schools must follow the national curriculum. The governing body oversees strategy and holds the headteacher to account, but the LA is the employer and has ultimate responsibility.
Voluntary Aided (VA) School
Usually a faith school (Church of England, Catholic, Jewish, etc.). The religious body owns the land and buildings, contributes to capital costs, and has a strong influence on admissions and ethos. Staff are employed by the governing body, not the LA. These schools follow the national curriculum but can teach RE according to their faith.
Voluntary Controlled (VC) School
Similar to voluntary aided, but with the local authority having more control. The LA employs the staff and controls admissions. The religious body owns the buildings but has less day-to-day influence. These are often Church of England schools with a gentler faith ethos than VA schools.
Foundation School
The governing body employs the staff and controls admissions, but the school still receives funding through the local authority. A foundation (often a charity or trust) usually owns the land. These schools have more autonomy than community schools but are still maintained schools under the LA umbrella.
Academy (Single Academy Trust)
Academies are independent of the local authority and funded directly by the government through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The academy trust employs the staff, controls admissions, and can set its own curriculum (though most still broadly follow the national curriculum). Single academy trusts run just one school.
Multi-Academy Trust (MAT)
A group of academies run by a single trust. The MAT board makes strategic decisions across all its schools — budgets, staffing structures, curriculum, and policies. Individual schools have a local governing body, but ultimate power lies with the trust. Some MATs run 2-3 schools; the largest run over 50.
Free School
A type of academy set up by groups like parents, teachers, charities, or businesses. Free schools are new schools — not conversions of existing ones. They have the same freedoms as academies (own curriculum, own admissions) and are funded by the government. They were introduced in 2011.
Special School
Schools for children with significant special educational needs. Special schools can be maintained by the LA or run as academies. They have specialist staff, smaller class sizes, and adapted facilities. Children usually need an EHCP to attend. Governance varies — some are LA maintained, some are academies or part of MATs.
What does governance type actually affect?
As a parent, here are the practical areas where governance type makes a real difference to your experience.
Admissions
Community and VC schools have admissions set by the LA. Academies, VA schools, and foundation schools set their own admissions policies — though all must follow the Admissions Code. Faith schools may prioritise children of that faith.
Curriculum
Maintained schools must follow the national curriculum. Academies and free schools can set their own curriculum, though most follow it closely. In practice, the difference is often small — but some academies have distinctive approaches to subjects or teaching methods.
Funding
All state schools are funded by the government. Maintained schools receive funding through the LA, which takes a small top-slice for central services. Academies receive funding directly from the ESFA. Per-pupil funding rates are broadly similar, but how money is spent can differ significantly.
Staff employment
In community and VC schools, staff are employed by the LA (with national pay and conditions). In academies, the trust is the employer and can set its own pay scales and terms. This can work both ways — some trusts pay more; others have less generous conditions.
Accountability
All schools are inspected by Ofsted. Maintained schools are also accountable to the local authority. Academies are accountable to the Regional Director (formerly Regional Schools Commissioner) and the ESFA. If things go wrong, the intervention routes are different.
What this means for you
Check on WhatSchool
Every school profile on WhatSchool shows the governance type. If it's an academy, we show which trust it belongs to and how many other schools the trust runs.
Understand who to escalate to
If you have a complaint, knowing the governance type tells you who to escalate to. For maintained schools, contact the LA. For academies, contact the trust or the ESFA.
Don't assume one type is better
Research shows that governance type alone doesn't determine school quality. Outstanding community schools and outstanding academies both exist. Focus on the school's actual performance, culture, and leadership rather than its label.
Ask about the trust
If a school is part of a MAT, ask what the trust provides — shared resources, CPD, curriculum support? Some trusts add real value; others are more hands-off. The trust's track record across its other schools can be revealing.