Education & Schools

Navigating UK education in Hull and the East Riding.

How schooling works in England

State school admissions in England are run by the local authority. In our area there are two: Hull City Council for schools inside Hull, and East Riding of Yorkshire Council for the surrounding region (Beverley, Hessle, Cottingham, Anlaby, Hedon and nearby villages). Each council publishes its own application timeline, catchment information and admissions criteria on its website.

Independent inspection reports for state-funded and many independent schools are published by Ofsted at reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Performance data is available on the government's Compare school performance service.

Key stages and ages

  • Early years — nurseries and reception (ages 3–5)
  • Primary school — Years 1–6 (ages 5–11)
  • Secondary school — Years 7–11 (ages 11–16), ending with GCSEs
  • Sixth form / college — Years 12–13 (ages 16–18), A-levels or equivalent
  • Higher education — university or apprenticeships

Higher education in the region

The main university in the area is the University of Hull, with a large campus on Cottingham Road. Hull College and East Riding College (Beverley and Bridlington) offer further education, apprenticeships and vocational courses.

Libraries & free learning

Public libraries in Hull and the East Riding offer free membership, study spaces, children's reading programmes and access to online learning. Hull Central Library in the city centre and the branch libraries across Beverley, Hessle, Cottingham, Driffield and Bridlington are good starting points.

Parenting & family support

  • NHS — your GP and the Healthy Child team support families with under-5s.
  • Family Hubs — run by the local authority, offering early years and family support.
  • School admissions — apply via gov.uk/schools-admissions and the relevant council.
  • Childcare — eligibility for free hours is set out at gov.uk/childcare-calculator.

Tutoring & extra support

Private tutoring is widely available locally for core subjects and entrance exams. We don't endorse specific tutors. The Tutors' Association publishes guidance on choosing a tutor in the UK.

This page is general guidance only and is not legal or educational advice. Always check the relevant council, school or government website for current information.