primary school

noun

1. a school usually covering the first three or four years of elementary school and sometimes kindergarten.
2. elementary school.

primary school

noun

1. (in Britain) a school for children below the age of 11. It is usually divided into an infant and a junior section
2. (in the US and Canada) a school equivalent to the first three or four grades of elementary school, sometimes including a kindergarten

Word History and Origins

Origin of primary school¹

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

As Mia struggled on, finding it difficult to make friends, Christina approached her primary school’s special educational needs teacher, her local social work department and mental health services, desperate for support.

From BBC

She was about to move from primary school to post-primary at the time.

From BBC

The rate at which primary school pupils are being suspended from state schools in England has more than doubled in a decade, BBC analysis suggests.

From BBC

His free lunches for every primary school child scheme was praised by a new independent report that found it had brought “significant benefits” for the capital’s children, parents and schools.

From BBC

"Noah missed his last nine months of primary school and it really affected his mental health," said Andy.

From BBC

Related Words

• grade school
• grammar school