All-round education means: A British educational term referring to a broad, holistic education that covers academic subjects alongside arts, sports, and social development - as opposed to narrow vocational or specialised. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. It is an education-system term, so usage is institutional and routine. It is sporting vocabulary and harmless in itself.
all-round education
A British educational term referring to a broad, holistic education that covers academic subjects alongside arts, sports, and social development — as opposed to narrow vocational or specialised training.
Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 28, 2026UK
A British educational term referring to a broad, holistic education that covers academic subjects alongside arts, sports, and social development — as opposed to narrow vocational or specialised training. Typically used in the context of school prospectuses, educational policy debates, and parental discussions about schooling priorities. Carries positive connotations of balanced personal development. More formal in register than slang, but widely used in British educational discourse. The equivalent American phrase might be 'well-rounded education'.
The school prided itself on providing an all-round education, placing as much value on drama and sport as on exam results.
Origin: Compound of 'all-round' (British English for comprehensive or covering all areas) and 'education'; the phrase reflects a distinctly British educational philosophy with roots in the Victorian public school ideal. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
For parents
All-round education means: A British educational term referring to a broad, holistic education that covers academic subjects alongside arts, sports, and social development - as opposed to narrow vocational or specialised. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. It is an education-system term, so usage is institutional and routine. It is sporting vocabulary and harmless in itself.
For ESL learners
all-round education means: A British educational term referring to a broad, holistic education that covers academic subjects alongside arts, sports, and social development - as opposed to narrow. Register: very informal, slang. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK
(British) general education.
Cluster: general
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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UK
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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.
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Other words near "all-round education" (A)
all over bar the shoutingallowallow itall-ports warningall-purpose flourall rightall-rounderall sereneall setall Sir Garnetall standingall that
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