As a private school in Devon, we understand that a well-rounded education from the very beginning can set children up for success. So, it’s no surprise that choosing the right school can be a momentous decision for parents.
When looking for the perfect school, you’ll come across a lot of sometimes conflicting terms. How do you differentiate between a state, public, and private school, for example? Every school is unique, but knowing which term they fall under can make it easier to narrow down which is right for your child.
Explaining State, Public & Private Schools
There are lots of different styles of schools to choose from in the UK, the majority of which are overseen by the Government. State, public and private schools are the most common umbrella terms you’ll see, and other types of school (including preparatory schools like ours) often fall into one of these categories.
Here is a very basic explanation of what these three terms mean, with more in-depth explainers available below.
- State School is the most common format, where they follow the national curriculum, and everyone is entitled to a free place.
- A Private School is one that usually follows its own curriculum, and pupils are charged an admission fee to attend.
- Public School is an old term in the UK referring to a handful of historic, elite private schools, such as Eton College.
| State School | Private School | Public School | |
| Funding | Government funded | Fees paid by parents | Fees paid by parents |
| Admissions | Free admission based on locality | Paid, selective & non-selective admission | Expensive, often highly selective admission |
| Curriculum | National curriculum | School-set curriculum | School-set curriculum |
| Class Sizes | Large | Small | Small |
It’s worth highlighting that while private and public schools sit outside of the national curriculum, they are still monitored and assessed by the Government in similar ways to state schools.
Many private schools are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), as opposed to by OFSTED. ISI is an independent inspectorate appointed by the Department for Education to inspect association independent schools in England.
What’s the Difference Between a State and Public School?
In other areas, the terms state school and public school are used interchangeably, but in the UK, they are very different institutions.
State schools are what many would see as a traditional school, one funded by the government that follows the national curriculum. There are no fees, and all children aged 5 to 16 in the UK are entitled to a place at such a school.
Public schools, despite the name, are in fact some of the most prestigious and exclusive private schools in the country. The term describes a specific handful of private schools and comes from when they were first introduced centuries ago, when they were open to all children for a nominal fee, regardless of social background.
Public schools include Eton, Harrow and Rugby, amongst others. These historical schools are famously difficult to attend, often charging incredibly high admission fees or requiring children to show an extraordinary level of talent to receive scholarships.
Meanwhile, the vast majority of state schools are non-selective and must accept all children within their local catchment area, so long as they are deemed to have enough space. There are some selective state schools, such as grammar schools and academies, but these do not charge pupils for attending.
What’s the Difference Between a Public and Private School?
The traditional public schools are all technically private schools; they are academically selective, funded by admissions and don’t follow the Government curriculum. However, not every private school is a public school.
As discussed above, ‘public school’ is an archaic term referring to a handful of specific historical private schools, such as Eton. These schools tend to be associated with the elite, charging high admission fees.
Private schools, more generally, come in lots of shapes and sizes, including independent and preparatory schools like ours. Many private schools are much more accessible than public schools, with lower admissions fees making them an option for many families.
The approach to education in private schools like ours is the same as the elite public school institutions. By creating our own bespoke curriculum (the St Peter’s School Baccalaureate®), having smaller class sizes and using admissions to fund our exceptional facilities, we hope to give all pupils the very best chance of seeing their talents flourish.
What’s the Difference Between a Private and State School?
For most families, the choice between which school to attend comes down to choosing between a state school and a private school. There are significant differences between state schools and private schools to consider.
State schools don’t charge admissions fees for children to attend and follow the national curriculum. Because state schools are obliged to take a certain number of pupils, they tend to be bigger than most private schools, with larger class sizes and stretched facilities.
Private schools tend to follow a more bespoke curriculum designed around achieving certain outcomes. In the case of a preparatory school like ours, that’s preparing pupils to gain entry to highly successful senior schools. Private schools charge admission fees for attending, and this money goes into ensuring the highest level of teaching and excellent facilities to deliver better education results.
There are a lot of other factors to consider when choosing between state and private schools. For more information, read our blog on the benefits of private schools.
What Kind of School is Right for My Child?
There are so many things that go into choosing the right school for your child that there is never a perfect answer. Beyond things like cost and education outcomes, you have factors such as a school’s location and your child’s interests that also need to be considered.
Our advice is always to look around, keep an open mind and speak to any schools that you believe could be a potential fit for your child. If St Peter’s Prep is one of those schools, we encourage you to organise a visit, where we can talk about whether our private school is right for you.
