Resources

Make sense of the numbers.

Every rating, score and rule you see on FavSchools, explained in plain English - Ofsted, Progress 8, catchment areas, admissions and the jargon in between. For a specific journey like grammar schools, head to its own section.

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Guides

Plain-English explainers on admissions, Ofsted, catchment areas, performance measures and more.

6 articles, kept up to dateOpen

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Glossary

Every UK schools term demystified - Progress 8, EBacc, EHCP, banding, oversubscription criteria and more.

A-Z reference for parentsOpen

Latest from the Guides

Fresh explainers, kept up to date.

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Admissions 101

5 min read

A Quick Start Guide to FavSchools

Learn how to use FavSchools to find, compare and shortlist schools for your children. From the interactive map to detailed school pages.

Ofsted

8 min read

Ofsted Inspections Explained

Understanding how Ofsted inspects schools, what the ratings mean, and how to interpret the new report card system introduced in 2025.

Admissions 101

6 min read

School Catchment Areas Explained

What are catchment areas? How are they determined? And how can you use them to improve your chances of getting a place at your preferred school?

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Applying to a grammar school?

The complete guide to UK grammar schools.

Where the grammars are, how the 11+ works in your area, and how to plan a realistic application.

Explore Grammar Schools