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| | Public Schools UK |
 | | A public school, in common English and Welsh usage, is a (usually) prestigious school, for children usually between the ages of 11 or 13 and 18, which charges fees and is not financed by the state. |
 | | By contrast, a government-maintained school, where instruction is provided free of charge, is called a state school. |
 | | Preparatory schools (historically also known as "private schools", as they were usually privately owned by the headmaster) take children from the age of eight (or younger) and prepare them for their entrance exams to public schools. |
| www.publicschools.co.uk (271 words) |
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