Meaning & use
a secondary school
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Meanings
nouncountableBritish
A school for older children, usually between the ages of 11 and 18, that comes after primary school.
Grammar: Countable: say 'a secondary school' or 'secondary schools'. The article 'a' is not part of the term itself.
Patterns
- go to secondary school
- a secondary school teacher
- at secondary school
In the UK, children move to a secondary school at age eleven.
She teaches science at a secondary school in Manchester.
Most students finish secondary school when they are eighteen.
nouncountable
In some countries, a school for students between primary and university level, often divided into middle and high school.
Grammar: Used in international contexts; American English usually prefers 'middle school' or 'high school'.
Patterns
- secondary education
- secondary school system
The country is building more secondary schools in rural areas.
Secondary school education is free in many countries.
Word forms
| plural | secondary schools |
|---|
Common combinations
- go to secondary school
- Children here go to secondary school when they turn twelve.
- secondary school teacher
- He works as a secondary school teacher.
- finish secondary school
- She finished secondary school last year.
- secondary school student
- Secondary school students often study for exams.
Synonyms and how they differ
- high school
- Used mainly in the US for a school for teenagers; in the UK it is less common and usually means a school for older pupils.
- middle school
- In the US, a school for children between primary and high school, usually ages 11–14.
Opposites
Word family
- secondary adjective
- Coming after the first or main thing; also used to describe this level of education.
Commonly confused: a secondary school or high school?
a secondary school vs high school
In the US, 'high school' is the last part of secondary education (ages 14–18). In the UK, 'secondary school' covers the whole period from 11 to 18.
Practice
In British English, which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
The simple present 'goes to a secondary school' describes a current fact. 'Since he was five' needs the present perfect, and 'since five years' is not correct English.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a secondary school”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.