What's the difference...

[haych83]

...between a private, public and state school?

[bednobs]

in the uk:
private school is one where you have to pay to go to (any age)
public school is a private secondary school
state school is one provided "free" (via taxes) to the majority of schoolchildren

[haych83]

Brilliant - thanks bednobs : )

[Buenchico]

Fee-paying schools tend not to use the word 'private'; the preferred term is 'independent'.

The term 'public school' has a variety of definitions but it is often taken to mean a school which is in the 'upper echelon' of independent schools. This is defined by the head teacher being admitted to membership of the Head Masters' Conference. (You'll sometimes see the letters 'H.M.C.' proudly displayed on the signs outside such schools). As Bednobs indicates, all such schools have pupils in the secondary age group but many also have junior houses, providing primary education. The parents of those primary-age pupils would probably still say that their children attended a 'public' school.

Most 'public schools' are primarily boarding schools. Some people would argue that this is an essential part of the definition of a public school but this differs from the law which actually defines nine specific schools (some of which don't take boarders) as public schools.

Even the term 'state school' has a variety of definitions. As Bednobs suggests, the 'state sector' refers to education in schools funded by the tax payer. However, some people would argue that single-religion ('voluntary aided') schools (e.g. for Catholics or Muslims) don't really fit into what many parents think of as a 'state school' even though they are still paid for from public funds.

If you're not already totally confused, take a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_schoo l_(UK)

Chris