Word
primary school
Definition
compound. a school for children between the ages of five and eleven.
compound. an educational institution providing the first stage of compulsory education, typically for children aged 5 to 11.
Examples
“My son starts primary school in September.”
“The local primary school has a great reputation for its music and arts programs.”
“Educational researchers have noted that children who attend a high-quality primary school often demonstrate better social integration in their later teenage years.”
Examples
simple
“My son starts primary school in September.”
contextual
“The local primary school has a great reputation for its music and arts programs.”
complex
“Educational researchers have noted that children who attend a high-quality primary school often demonstrate better social integration in their later teenage years.”
Usage
this term is standard in British English; the American equivalent is 'elementary school'.
Teaching tip
use this to teach the hierarchy of education systems; contrast with 'nursery' (younger) and 'secondary school' (older).
Pitfall
He goes to the primary school.
He goes to primary school.
when talking about attending school as a student, we usually omit the definite article 'the'.