Definition

Noun: A school or educational institution where secretarial skills are taught. These skills typically include typing, shorthand, filing, office procedures, and other administrative competencies necessary for a career as a secretary or administrative assistant.

Usage

This noun is used to refer to a specific type of vocational or business school. It is often used in contexts discussing education, career training, and professional development for office roles. - She enrolled in a secretarial school to improve her typing speed and learn business correspondence. - Before the rise of computer science degrees, many women pursued careers by attending secretarial school.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The term often evokes a specific era (mid-20th century) when such schools were a primary route into the white-collar workforce, especially for women.
• Modern Equivalent: While still used, the concept is often encompassed by broader terms like "office administration programs" or "business support diplomas" within community colleges.

Variants and Related Words

• Secretarial (adjective): Of or relating to the work of a secretary.
  • She completed a secretarial course.
• Secretary (noun): A person employed to handle correspondence, manage schedules, and carry out administrative tasks.
• Administrative assistant (noun): A modern title often synonymous with secretary, implying a wider range of office support skills.

Synonyms

• Business school (in a specific, narrow sense focusing on office skills)
• Vocational school (for secretarial studies)
• Office skills academy

Antonyms

• Engineering school
• Medical school
• Liberal arts college

Related Phrases/Compounds

• Secretarial course: A specific program of study within a broader educational institution, as opposed to a dedicated school.
• Secretarial training: The instruction itself, which can occur in various settings, not exclusively a "secretarial school."

Noun

1. a school where secretarial skills (typing and shorthand and filing etc) are taught