Information for people new to Manchester
Education and Training

This section looks at the education system for children in the UK as well as education and training opportunities for adult asylum seekers and refugees. There is also a section on learning English for speakers of other languages.

Children's Education

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The academic year runs from September to July in the UK at all educational institutions. Education is free and all children (both boys and girls) aged 5 to 16 must go to school. This applies to refugee children during and after the asylum process. Free government schools are called state schools. There are also private schools, called Public Schools in the UK, which charge fees.

Many schools have teachers of English as An Additional Language (EAL), who help children who speak other languages to speak and write in English. For information and support in registering your child, contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team (formerly known as the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS)).

All English schools follow "The National Curriculum" which lays down what children should be taught each year in a number of different subjects. What year group your child is in is normally determined by his or her age. It is not the normal practice of English schools to keep children in a particular class until they have "passed" the year - children normally "move-up" to the next class with their peers.

Sometimes children who do not speak any English when they start school may be put in a year group slightly younger than their age, this is to help them to adjust to the British school system and become fluent in English before they take any public examinations.

Pre-School Education (0-5 Years Old)

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Children can be left for part of the day in crèches, nurseries or pre-school facilities while parents are at work or college. There are some free pre-school places available but demand far outstrips supply and many parents who cannot get a pre-school place for their child.

It is also possible to place your child in a private nursery - you have to pay for this and it is very expensive though if you are working (or want to start working) there is a system of tax credits which will pay some of this cost (up to 95%, depending on how much you earn) if you think this applies to you ask the Citizens Advice Bureau for more details.

Some colleges have crèches where students children can go whilst the parents are in class. Enquire at the college if you are interested in this.

Children under 5 do not have to go to school, but all primary schools in Manchester have some  free nursery places for children aged 3 and 4. Again it can be difficult to find places. It is very helpful for refugee children to go to nursery as they learn English and meet other children.

Your public library, children's information service or local Sure Start programme will tell you about local schools and playgroups.

Primary School (5-11 Years Old)

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Children must go to primary school when they are 5 years old, but you may have to register your child long before that if you want to get a place at your local school. Most primary schools teach boys and girls together. Children go into a class according to their age, not their previous learning. There are no examinations in primary school but there are regular tests of progress made.

Secondary School (11-16 Years Old)

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Children of all abilities go to secondary schools at age 11. Most schools take boys and girls, but a few are single-sex: some secondary schools are run by churches or other religious groups. Grammar schools select children of higher ability based on tests. All secondary schools teach the national curriculum, and range of academic subjects in which the children are periodically tested. Before leaving secondary school at 16, children take national examinations called GCSEs in a number of subjects.

Education for 16-19 Year Olds

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Children are allowed to leave school at age 16, but they can continue to study for free until they are 19. Between 16 and 18, children study for AS and A level examinations, which are needed to get a place at university. Some secondary schools have 'sixth forms', which take students until they are 18. Other young people go to Further Education colleges to study for these examinations.

Finding A School For Your Child

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You can get a list of local schools from Manchester Education Department, or from the Diversity and Inclusion Team. To register your child for school, either phone or visit the school of your choice with your child. If your English is not good, the school may have someone who also speaks your language. Alternatively, you could get in touch with an Education Welfare Officer (EWO) at Manchester Education Department. The EWO will contact schools and arrange for families to visit the school. They will help with application forms for school places and can assist in getting uniform grants and school meals. The EWO will also be able to give parents information about the school day and what the school expects from children and parents.

It is illegal for a school to refuse your child a place because of poor English, ethnic or national origin: however, a school can refuse to take a child if all their pupil places are full (though you have a right of appeal against such a refusal).

If your child is refused a place and you decide to appeal, you should also try to get your child a place at another school, so that your child can begin at one of the schools as soon as possible. If you find it difficult to get your child into a school contact Manchester Education Department or the Diversity and Inclusion Team.

Supplementary Schools

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State schools teach in English, though pupils may study modern languages at secondary school level. Many refugee community organisations run supplementary schools, usually on Saturdays, at which children can learn their native language. For a list of supplementary schools contact Manchester Refugee Support Network (MRSN) or the Diversity and Inclusion Team.

Problems at School

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Many children have problems at some time during their school life. Refugee children may find it difficult to make friends, may be bullied, suffer racist insults or find the English language difficult. If you feel your child is unhappy or having problems, speak to a teacher or make an appointment to see the head or other staff. Alternatively, contact an Education Welfare Officer.

Education and Training for Young Adults (Aged 16-25)

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For information about education and training for young refugees, City Centre Project can help. City Centre Project also hosts a drop-in café every 2 weeks for young refugees at which staff and volunteers can give advice and support to young refugees who want to study.

Connexions is UK-wide organisation which gives support and guidance, careers and study advice to this age group. They can also help older children with problems such as bullying or finding a school or college which suits their needs. As well as helping young adults to find educational or work opportunities which suit their needs. The Young Adult Support Project (YASP) in Levenshulme can also give advice to this age group, especially if they are having difficulties at school or college.

Adult Education and Training

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Adults with appropriate qualifications can join adult education courses. Community organisations, universities and adult education colleges all give courses of some kind. A course can last from a few weeks to several years, and may take from 2 hours a week to full-time.

For some courses you will need to have specific qualifications already, while others are open to anyone; some courses have to be paid for and others are free. The academic year in the UK runs from September to July, and apart from ESOL and IT/computer courses, most courses given by further education colleges start in September.

Those arriving later in the academic year may have to wait until the following September to begin a course. You can get information on courses directly from the colleges and universities listed at the end of this section. You can also find information on courses from public libraries. For general information on educational opportunities in the UK as well as occasional grants, contact the Africa Education Trust (AET).

There are many different courses you can take, for example:

§          Access courses (to help those without formal or recognised qualifications to enter higher education).

§          Adult literacy and numeracy (understanding words and numbers)

§          University diplomas, certificates or degrees (full or part-time study).

§          Vocational training (preparing for a job)

Many people also attend adult education courses to learn a new skill or hobby and there are classes in a whole range of subjects from Art to Zoology!.

If you are interested in adult education go to your local library and ask for the prospectuses of local colleges. Alternatively you can go to your local college and ask to speak to a student advisor.

Vocational Training Courses (preparing for a job)

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Community organisations and colleges run courses to train people in work skills. These are useful in finding employment. Some courses are especially for refugees and may cover computing, interpreting, how to look for a job and do well at an interview.

The main types of qualification are:

§          NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications);

§          City and Guilds certificates, and;

§          Open College Network certificates.

These courses are offered by the larger colleges in Manchester, such as MANCAT and City College. However, a large number of smaller organisations also run vocational courses.

University degrees / Higher education                                                              back to top

The term `higher education' usually refers to university-level studies. To enter university, you will need minimum educational qualifications, for example UK GCSEs, A' levels or an Access course certificate. University courses are usually only open to those who have Indefinate leave to remain, although it is worth enquiring (directly to the university) if you have exceptional leave to remain, discretionary leave or humanitarian protection status.

There are 2 universities in Manchester: the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), which offer a wide range of academic courses, and Salford University in Salford.

Cost ofCourses

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Community organisations, adult education colleges and further education colleges often run courses free for refugees and asylum seekers or only make a small charge. The government does not pay for most further education or university courses. You must make arrangements for this yourself. There are two different sets of fees for "Home students" (cheaper) and for "Overseas students" (more expensive).  The length of time you have lived in the UK (or Europe) is the main determinant of whether you pay home or overseas fees.

You need to ask at the university admissions office about your particular situation.

Sometimes the University can make local arrangements or support you to apply for funding if you cannot afford the fees.

Contact RETAS, World University Services for information about funding for education.

Using Qualifications and Study gained in your Home Country

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When starting a course in the UK it is often possible to get credit for previous learning in other countries. These are called Accreditations For Prior Learning (APEL). There are APEL courses for refugees to help assess previous learning experience. Contact the university or college directly for information about APEL schemes.

Education and Training for Women Refugees

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Refugee women looking for single sex classes and female teachers may not find such courses in the larger colleges. However, community organisations and voluntary groups do sometimes provide these opportunities for women. The British Red Cross runs an education and training project  ‑ REST ‑ for refugee women in Manchester; the Pankhurst Centre and the Inspired Sisters also have women-only classes.

General information on educational opportunities for female refugees can be obtained from RETAS, World University Service and from the Refugee Women's Association. The Manchester-based Women's Action Forum provides free information to women on education, training and employment opportunities.

English Language Classes for Adults

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There are many English language classes that refugees can join but you may have to wait before beginning classes. English language classes run by MANCAT, MAES, City College and Learndirect as well as those run by community organisations are usually free for refugees and asylum seekers and for nationals of other European countries.

Your college may be able to help with bus or train fares and childcare - ask to see a student advisor at the college.

Classes for second language speakers are usually called ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). There are special courses combining English language with IT, job seeking and foundation courses for further education. Some classes are for women students only. You can study for an English language qualification leading to a National Vocation Qualification (NVQ) or the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) qualification, which is needed for entry to some university courses.

Contacts list

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