Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they define (1) public schools, (2) grammar schools, (3) academy schools, and (4) high schools.

1. ‘Public school’ is not a term set out in legislation, but is used commonly to refer to an ‘independent school,’ as defined with Section 463 of the Education Act 1996.

2. ‘Grammar schools’ are the 163 schools which were designated as such within the Education (Grammar School Designation) Order 1998 (as amended). Originally all grammar schools were maintained grammar schools, however, 140 have now become wholly selective academies.

3. Academy schools are State funded independent schools, as defined in Section 1A of the Academies Act 2010 (as amended).

4. ‘Higher school’ is not a term set out in legislation, but is used commonly to refer to a ‘secondary school’ that caters mainly for key stage 4 pupils and perhaps key stage 5 pupils.

The attached table provides the full definition of each type of school as set out in legislation.