Private Schools

Many countries (or jurisdictions) worldwide have a mixed system of schools to serve children, families, and communities. State or public schools—the [Page 1300]terms vary with jurisdiction—are those that are provided by various levels of government (national, regional, or local) and are financed by taxation. The expectation is that they are generally free to children and their parents and that they represent ongoing international effort to make education universally available as a human right. In many jurisdictions, however, parents may be expected to make some contribution, ranging from buying a school uniform to paying small fees. This entry examines how private schools are defined, their specific history and influence in the United Kingdom, and how they engage in the ongoing maintenance of class divisions.