"where" not "wear"

You're right though, that is strange.

Oops! Will fix! Connected brain is not sometimes.

To start with schools were only for the sons of the aristocracy or for future priests. These were the private schools. Eventually in about 950A.D., places like St Albans Abbey let the public in for a few pennies, to learn to read and write, followed by Eton and the rest. These were called public schools because they were open to the public. Trouble is, after that it got out of hand.

Matters aren't really helped by the fact that we have both Public and Private (big P) schools, but BOTH are in actual fact private (little p).

There is a subtle difference between the two: Public schools - often defined by membership of the Headmaster's Conference (HMC) group - claim to be 'charities' in that they don't make a profit from the fees they charge. Winchester College, established in the late 1300s, is the oldest of the bunch. Private schools on the other hand DO set out to run at a profit.

I think Public schools now prefer to be called Independent schools, but everyone is too entrenched after 600 years to change.

Mum - we call free schools State Schools, as they are funded by the State.

(as in "Nation State" rather than the US type of state...)

Do you also wonder why 'public houses' aren't funded by taxation????? I for one wish they were.

The wealthy used to hire private tutors for their offspring. The aspiring middle classes clubbed together, and hired a tutor to teach their children, splitting the cost between themselves. Before that, any teaching at all was done by the parents, and/or the children were apprenticed. Hence public schools: more public than a private tutor.