# primary school

CEFR B1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/primary-school
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

a school for children between the ages of five and eleven.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He goes to the primary school." but "He goes to primary school." — when talking about attending school as a student, we usually omit the definite article 'the'.

## Usage notes

- 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).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.