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Glite Dictionary
direct-grant school

direct-grant school

8.9
A former UK school that charged fees but accepted some students funded by the local council
  • noun
  • /dɪˈrɛkt ɡrænt skuːl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : escuela de subvención directa
  • Admission to a direct-grant school could be gained through a local authority nomination or by paying fees.

Examples

  • The direct-grant school system offered a mix of private and publicly funded education.

  • Many prominent politicians attended direct-grant schools before the scheme ended in the 1970s.

  • The direct-grant school offers a unique mix of funding.

  • Many parents prefer sending their children to a direct-grant school.

  • Admission to a direct-grant school was possible through a local authority nomination or by paying tuition fees.

  • Many students benefited from a direct-grant school as they could receive education without paying full private fees.

  • The direct-grant school model in the UK allowed for a blend of government support and private school advantages.

Surface Forms

direct-grant school singular
direct-grant schools plural

Morphology

direct-grant + school

The components 'direct' + 'grant' + 'school' transparently suggest a school that receives funding (a grant) directly, so a B1 learner who knows those words would likely infer it relates to funding. However, the precise historical/policy meaning (fee-charging combined with a quota of non-fee-paying students selected by authorities) is specialised and not predictable from the parts alone, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Direct-grant school comes from an old UK system where the government gave a grant (money) direct to some fee-paying schools. Those schools agreed to admit some local children who did not pay fees, so the name shows they were private schools with public funding.