Public school
In the United Kingdom, public schools are independent fee-paying schools like Eton College. By "independent" is meant fee-paying, and therefore not run by the public authorities. They are called 'public' because they accept students from anywhere  not just people living nearby in the school area. Some are boarding schools, where students can sleep and live at school during the school term. The public schools have an association called the Headmasers' and Headmistresses' Conference. Junior schools which prepare children for entry into public schools are called Preparatory schools ('prep' schools).