[NooneAtAll3]

...what is public school then?

[somenameforme]

A fee charging privately operated institution that does not receive public funding. [1] Brits have a way with words.

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_school_(United_Kingdom)

[t-3]

The US still somewhat has a similar distinction with public and private colleges. Private vs public funding rather than private vs public admission.

[ted_dunning]

A similar distinction with opposite polarity, however.

A public school in Britain does not receive public funding.

A public school in the US is entirely publicly funded.

[peterfirefly]

When rich people started having their kids educated with children of other rich people instead of at home by tutors.