comprehensive school
comprehensive school — noun
1. A state-funded secondary school in the United Kingdom where children of all acad
A state-funded secondary school in the United Kingdom where children of all academic levels learn together after primary school, with all costs covered by the government rather than through fees.
After primary school, Faisal joined the comprehensive school in the neighbouring town.
attend / join a comprehensive school
Unlike the local grammar school, Oakwood Comprehensive School accepts pupils of all academic abilities.
contrast with grammar school: accepts all abilities
Ingrid made friends quickly at the comprehensive school she started last September.
Since comprehensive schools are funded by the government, parents do not pay any tuition fees.
state-funded: government covers all costs
Many parents choose the comprehensive school over a private school because the teaching is just as good.
contrast with private school: choice based on quality
- local comprehensive school
- attend a comprehensive school
- go to a comprehensive school
- comprehensive school system
- comprehensive education
- state school
broader term — includes primary and secondary state-funded schools; not specific to the all-ability secondary model
- secondary modern school
historical UK term for a less academic state school; contrasts with the all-ability principle of comprehensive schools
- grammar school
UK state secondary school that selects pupils by academic exam (the 11-plus); the opposite of the non-selective comprehensive model
- private school
fee-paying school not funded by the state; differs in funding model from comprehensive schools
Usage Note
Frequently used in contrast to 'grammar school' (selective by exam) and 'private school' (fee-charging). The 'comprehensive' model accepts pupils of all abilities, unlike those two alternatives.