Grammar fix

school friend

classmate

someone you became friends with while you were both students at the same school.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

I met my oldest school friend when we were both in Year 7.daily life
One of my closest school friends still lives in my hometown, so we meet up whenever I visit.IELTS speaking

Pattern: school friend (noun)

WrongShe's my friend of school.

RightShe's a school friend of mine. / a friend from school.

Say 'a friend from school' or 'a school friend', not 'friend of school'.

Patternschool friend (noun)

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff He is a former associate from my educational years.

Natural He's an old school friend.

'School friend' is plain and warm; 'associate from my educational years' is cold.

Words that usually travel with it.

school friend + context
an old school frienda friend from schoolschool friendsbest friend at school

'School friend' is more specific than 'friend' and is different from 'university friend' or 'work friend'.