comprehensive school: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, educational, governmental
Quick answer
What does “comprehensive school” mean?
A non-selective state secondary school for pupils of all academic abilities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A non-selective state secondary school for pupils of all academic abilities.
A publicly-funded secondary school system prevalent in the UK that does not select its intake based on academic achievement or aptitude.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This term is predominantly British. In the US, an equivalent single institution is usually just called a "public high school" or "public secondary school".
Connotations
In the UK, connotations relate to the post-war social democratization of education. In the US, no direct equivalent connotation exists.
Frequency
High frequency in UK education discourse; near-zero frequency in US discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “comprehensive school” in a Sentence
[determiner] + comprehensive school + [prepositional phrase (in/of)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “comprehensive school” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The comprehensive school system
- A comprehensive school education
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used.
Academic
Used in educational policy, sociology, and history discussions.
Everyday
Common in UK conversations about schooling and children's education.
Technical
Used precisely in educational administration and policy-making.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “comprehensive school”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “comprehensive school”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “comprehensive school”
- Using 'comprehensive school' to describe a US public school.
- Confusing with 'comprehensive education' as a general concept.
- Misspelling as 'comprehencive school'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A US public high school is broadly similar in being non-selective and state-funded, but the term 'comprehensive school' is specifically British and carries historical/policy connotations not present in the US term.
No. By definition, a comprehensive school in the UK context is a state-funded, non-selective institution. Private schools are selective via fees and often academic testing.
The main opposite in the UK context is a grammar school, which selects pupils based on the 11-plus academic exam.
Yes, the majority of state secondary schools in England and Wales are comprehensives. The system persists, though some areas have retained selective grammar schools.
A non-selective state secondary school for pupils of all academic abilities.
Comprehensive school is usually formal, educational, governmental in register.
Comprehensive school: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒmprɪˈhensɪv skuːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːmprɪˈhensɪv skuːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
COMPrehensive schools COMPrehend and include ALL students.
Conceptual Metaphor
EDUCATION IS A CONTAINER (for all abilities).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key defining feature of a comprehensive school?