public school

In England and Wales, a prestigious fee-paying independent school. In Scotland, the USA, and many other English-speaking countries, a ‘public’ school is a state-maintained school, and independent schools are generally known as ‘private’ schools.

Some English public schools (for example Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester) are ancient foundations, usually originally intended for poor male scholars; others developed in the 18th–19th centuries. Among those for girls are Roedean and Benenden. Many public schools are coeducational in the sixth form, and some boys' schools now admit girls at 13. Some discipline (less than formerly) is in the hands of senior boys and girls (prefects).

Originally, UK public schools stressed a classical education, character training, and sports, but the curriculum is now closer allied to state education, although with generally a wider range of subjects offered and a lower pupil-to-teacher ratio.