Difference between preparatory school and normal school?

[MommyG]

What is the difference between independent schools and independent preparatory school? Can any independent primary school be called a preparatory school?

Prep is normal 7-11 or 13+ (Common Entrance) Primary can apply to any ages between 4 and 11

Sorry LIZS.. so why are some schools that do only till year 3 or year 6 called Preparatory schools, while some others are called just Primary schools?

If the school is called a primary school, then it is a state-run school, from Nursery or Reception up to Year 6.

Independent school is a generic term for any school that is funded directly by parents. There are loads of different types of independent schools. Broadly, there are all through schools (3 - 18), senior schools (11/13 to 18), prep schools (officially 7 - 11/13, but may include their own pre-prep), pre-preps (3 - 8).

Some prep schools use Preparatory in their name, others just have a simple school name. If the school is combined with a senior school but run fairly separately, they will often have Junior School in their title.

There is no rule in the independent sector that the name of the school must have a specific meaning. You can't really read anything into the name.

Thank you so much scienceteacher.

You're more likely to find a pre-prep/prep/senior distinction (switching at 7 and at 13) in boys' schools, too. Girls' schools (if they don't cover the whole 4-18 range) tend to switch at 11. Co-educational schools may adopt either model.

Between 6 and 20 thousand pounds a year..!