In the UK, nowadays the only difference between the two is that for Public schools there is an entrance exam.
Both Public and Private schools:
-charge fees,
-have charitable status,
- provide bursaries,
- have small class sizes cf. state controlled schools
- are funded from fees from the parents not from taxpayers via devolved budgets from their local education authority.
- are managed by their own committee independent of the local education authority.
However, they are both still subjected to regular Ofsted checks like the state schools.
However, they are both still subjected to regular Ofsted checks like the state schools.
Seems nobody has told OFSTED that, from their website:-
Inspecting independent schools
This page tells you what happens before, during and after an independent school inspection.
There are around 2,400 independent schools in England, but Ofsted inspects the educational provision of only half of them. We inspect independent schools which are not members of associations. We do this at the request of the Department for Education, which is the registration authority for all independent schools.
We normally carry out inspections of educational provision in non-association independent schools on a three-or-six year cycle depending on how well the school performed at its last inspection. In the case of independent boarding schools, the boarding provision is inspected every three years.
You can end up tying yourself up in knots about this, as private schools are often called public schools in the UK.
In respect of this, I really wish the British would adopt the American way & make a clear distinction, because this is the one occasion where the Americans use or language better than we do!:D
You can end up tying yourself up in knots about this, as private schools are often called public schools in the UK.
In respect of this, I really wish the British would adopt the American way & make a clear distinction, because this is the one occasion where the Americans use or language better than we do!:D
To add to the confusion, I went to a private school that was one of many run by the Girls' Public Day School Trust.
I believe they've changed their name now, and dropped the word "day" from the trust's title. That really helps a lot, I'm sure.
You can end up tying yourself up in knots about this, as private schools are often called public schools in the UK.
In respect of this, I really wish the British would adopt the American way & make a clear distinction, because this is the one occasion where the Americans use or language better than we do!:D
As pointed out by others, the subset of private schools in the UK which are known as public schools, are so known for an historical reason. They were schools governed by members of the public rather than by Parliament or the church.
It doesn't really matter what other countries use; we have three distinctions in the UK:
o State schools (government funded)
o Independent schools (run by independent trusts, funded from fees)
o Public schools (a subset of independent schools as defined by the Public Schools Act 1868)
I'm pretty sure that all independent schools, not just public schools, set an entrance exam.
Nope - we sent ours to an independent school, no entrance exams just a monthly cheque !
Fab school:
- brilliant staff who cared about the kids.
- no more than ten kids per class. My youngest only had six class peers. Only one class per year group.
- when it came to choosing GCSE's, we were told to choose whatever subjects the kids wanted and the school would deliver. My eldest was the only one to choose ICT, so he had one to one tuition in that subject. Same for a girl who was the only one studying French and German languages.
And definitely the best bit according to the kids - at the annual summer BBQ, one year they arranged for an ice-cream van for free soft whips all round !
So all public schools are private schools - but not all private schools are public schools. Interesting piece.
I'm sure a whole lot of private schools would love to be able to describe themelves as public schools because of the higher status.
'Private school' can mean practically anything. There are tiny religious establishments meeting in hired premises with barely anything in the way of facilities. There is a big private school near us in what used to be an office block - no grounds at all - and which seems to consist largely of pupils who were doing badly at their state school, and whose parents panicked and moved them. Presumably they benefit from the smaller classes, but otherwise they seem to be losing out. The nearest high school to it has extensive fields, a theatre, an excellent art suite, numerous specialist science labs etc.
I'm pretty sure that all independent schools, not just public schools, set an entrance exam.
There are independent schools for everyone (except, of course, the poor.) My parents consulted the directory - I was going to say Baskin Robbins, but that isn't right - when my brother was expelled from his state school, and there are numerous private schools catering for people with learning or behavioural difficulties. In fact by FAR the most expensive schools in Britain - charging many times the fees of a mere Eton - are the specialist schools for children with autism. You can see why councils are not eager to fund children to go to them even when they would clearly benefit.
I'm sure a whole lot of private schools would love to be able to describe themelves as public schools because of the higher status.
'Private school' can mean practically anything. There are tiny religious establishments meeting in hired premises with barely anything in the way of facilities. There is a big private school near us in what used to be an office block - no grounds at all - and which seems to consist largely of pupils who were doing badly at their state school, and whose parents panicked and moved them. Presumably they benefit from the smaller classes, but otherwise they seem to be losing out. The nearest high school to it has extensive fields, a theatre, an excellent art suite, numerous specialist science labs etc.
There are independent schools for everyone (except, of course, the poor.) My parents consulted the directory - I was going to say Baskin Robbins, but that isn't right - when my brother was expelled from his state school, and there are numerous private schools catering for people with learning or behavioural difficulties. In fact by FAR the most expensive schools in Britain - charging many times the fees of a mere Eton - are the specialist schools for children with autism. You can see why councils are not eager to fund children to go to them even when they would clearly benefit.
Nope - we sent ours to an independent school, no entrance exams just a monthly cheque !
Fab school:
- brilliant staff who cared about the kids.
- no more than ten kids per class. My youngest only had six class peers. Only one class per year group.
- when it came to choosing GCSE's, we were told to choose whatever subjects the kids wanted and the school would deliver. My eldest was the only one to choose ICT, so he had one to one tuition in that subject. Same for a girl who was the only one studying French and German languages.
And definitely the best bit according to the kids - at the annual summer BBQ, one year they arranged for an ice-cream van for free soft whips all round !
I stand corrected. I certainly had to do entrance exams and an interview (which I can only assume I blagged my way through by telling the headmaster that, at age 10, I was a prolific reader of Oscar Wilde ).
It was an independent school; not posh by public-school standards, certainly. Though I was in the first year of boys to start construction on the school's yacht just before I left!
Comments
Both Public and Private schools:
-charge fees,
-have charitable status,
- provide bursaries,
- have small class sizes cf. state controlled schools
- are funded from fees from the parents not from taxpayers via devolved budgets from their local education authority.
- are managed by their own committee independent of the local education authority.
However, they are both still subjected to regular Ofsted checks like the state schools.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_school_%28United_Kingdom%29
Seems nobody has told OFSTED that, from their website:-
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/schools/for-all-other-users/inspecting-schools/inspecting-independent-schools
In respect of this, I really wish the British would adopt the American way & make a clear distinction, because this is the one occasion where the Americans use or language better than we do!:D
So do many private schools though. My stepson took several when he was in the last year of primary school.
Maybe the bigger difference is that you don't have to put your kids' names down for the school when they're really young?
To add to the confusion, I went to a private school that was one of many run by the Girls' Public Day School Trust.
I believe they've changed their name now, and dropped the word "day" from the trust's title. That really helps a lot, I'm sure.
Oh fudge - I guess I stand corrected on both counts.
Bottom of the class for me again!
..and the biggest difference is in educational performsnce ,sports facilities ,extra curricular activities etc etc etc .They re just incomparable .
I don't think that really distinguishes them either - in fact there are some state schools where you have to put your name down early.
As pointed out by others, the subset of private schools in the UK which are known as public schools, are so known for an historical reason. They were schools governed by members of the public rather than by Parliament or the church.
It doesn't really matter what other countries use; we have three distinctions in the UK:
o State schools (government funded)
o Independent schools (run by independent trusts, funded from fees)
o Public schools (a subset of independent schools as defined by the Public Schools Act 1868)
Nope - we sent ours to an independent school, no entrance exams just a monthly cheque !
Fab school:
- brilliant staff who cared about the kids.
- no more than ten kids per class. My youngest only had six class peers. Only one class per year group.
- when it came to choosing GCSE's, we were told to choose whatever subjects the kids wanted and the school would deliver. My eldest was the only one to choose ICT, so he had one to one tuition in that subject. Same for a girl who was the only one studying French and German languages.
And definitely the best bit according to the kids - at the annual summer BBQ, one year they arranged for an ice-cream van for free soft whips all round !
It's like the difference between and a red brick university or iivy league in the US.
Nope.
Or in uerror even.
'Private school' can mean practically anything. There are tiny religious establishments meeting in hired premises with barely anything in the way of facilities. There is a big private school near us in what used to be an office block - no grounds at all - and which seems to consist largely of pupils who were doing badly at their state school, and whose parents panicked and moved them. Presumably they benefit from the smaller classes, but otherwise they seem to be losing out. The nearest high school to it has extensive fields, a theatre, an excellent art suite, numerous specialist science labs etc.
There are independent schools for everyone (except, of course, the poor.) My parents consulted the directory - I was going to say Baskin Robbins, but that isn't right - when my brother was expelled from his state school, and there are numerous private schools catering for people with learning or behavioural difficulties. In fact by FAR the most expensive schools in Britain - charging many times the fees of a mere Eton - are the specialist schools for children with autism. You can see why councils are not eager to fund children to go to them even when they would clearly benefit.
Well written Wonkey.
I stand corrected. I certainly had to do entrance exams and an interview (which I can only assume I blagged my way through by telling the headmaster that, at age 10, I was a prolific reader of Oscar Wilde
It was an independent school; not posh by public-school standards, certainly. Though I was in the first year of boys to start construction on the school's yacht just before I left!
http://www.boltonschool.org/senior-boys/extra-curricular-activities/millennium-ketch/overview/
I went to an independent school despite coming from a poor family. I got a scholarship, so it cost nothing.