What is the difference between Public School and Private School?

Frenhsma Heights is a private not Public school, simiarly I'm not sure Bedales is really a Public one.

Way back, schooling happened at home for the rich or through monks/clergy in religious institutions. "Public" meant simply "'open to the public" who could not afford home tutors or gain access to the educators in religious foundations. Ironically (given today's fees for the majority of pupils) their aim was often to educate poor scholars without access to education.

In the mid 1800's a review identified a small no of schools as public - Eton, Westminster, Charterhouse, Shrewsbury, Winchester - maybe a few others, (Rugby? I can't remember). Other old schools were not so categorised but I have no idea why. There were no girls' schools on the list though some girls' schools are referred to as public today in the media.

So it is a woolly concept I think. Today it tends to refer to the older, "bigger" names and suggests age and reputation and to some people and sense of grandeur perhaps? Other than historical interest, I don't think the term has any practical weight or meaning today with regard to the education and experience provided.

In brief, all public schools are independent but not all independent schools are referred to as public. The term "private" can include privately owned, for-profit schools.

Public = big established name, traditionally favoured by the Establishment. Private = all others in the independent sector. Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Stowe, Westminster, Winchester etc. are all in the first group.

Re. longetivity though, the GPDST (Girls' Public Day School Trust) was only founded in 1872 (unsurprising in the context of academically rigorous provision for girls). The 'P' for 'Public' was dropped in 1998. I think Public can only be of any significance in distinguishing between the old boys' foundations.

I think it usually refers to those schools which are part of headmaster and headmistresses association(usually the older usually boarding schools)

Not all Publics are boarding, but most are. Some are even a bit alternative (Bedales and Frensham Heights).

They key thing is the best school for a specific child, whatever category it falls into.

Also publics are members of the Headmasters Conference, which is sort of a trade organisation for public schools. If you're 'established' enough then your school gets to be in.
Publics vary in how academic they are too, but do tend to have some lovely old buildings and grounds.

Lizs is right. Also, public schools usually offer boarding (or are exclusively boarding) and generally are more expensive than private schools. They usually have bigger grounds. There are a lot of private schools, particularly girls' ones, which were founded in the late 19th century and thus are a similar age to some of the public schools, so I don't think age helps sort out which is which, really. Not all private schools are academically driven, either!

Public schools are the more traditional names, usually boys only, schools lioek eton, Harrow, Winchester, Tonbrige, Stowe which admit by Common Entrance exam at 13+. Would n't credit them necessarily with a holistic approach but academic hothouses or OB network.

I'd say public schools are the old fashioned, we've been here 100years and not much has changed schools. So a subset of private schools.

I've always believed that public schools were the "posher" ones, which often took rich-but-thick kids so I suppose they have to aim at something other than academic excellence , But I'm sure someone will be able to give you a less cynical definition