[bluejekyll]

Can you explain the (" and ") on public when you refer to private in the UK?

[arethuza]

Some private schools (not all though - wouldn't be the UK if things were that simple) are termed "public" schools.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_school_(United_Kingdom)

What the rest of the world calls public schools are usually called state schools.

[lucozade]

We call the schools you pay for public schools. We call the schools that are paid from taxation state schools.

It's just us being quirky. It's not intended as a deliberate attempt to confuse and confound non-natives. Honest guvnor.

[jrkatz]

Over there, "public school" means what "private school" means in the States. It's confusing.

[jk563]

Both "public school" and "private school" are used to refer to schools which require a fee to be paid.

[sclangdon]

Selective, private-sector, paid-for schools in the UK are called Public Schools. I assume the quotes are because the schools are anything but public.