<P> Some independent schools use the term upper school to describe departments of a larger school, which may also include preparatory or junior departments . It is not particularly widely used, and there is little consistency in the way in which the term is applied to refer to year groups . </P> <P> Many independent and even some parochial schools in the United States also tend to favor the term "upper school" to designate grades 9--12, normally called "high school". Schools favoring this terminology may use "middle school" for grades 6 / 7--8 / 9, "lower school" for grades 1--5, and "early childhood" (education) for pre-K through Kindergarten . </P>

What do they call middle school in england