And if I get my PPL in a local flying club, does this count as a 'school'?
Yes, it does. However, if where you get your PPL from isnt able to accommodate next stages of training i.e. MECPL/ME-IR then no problem. Simply ensure that all the remainder is done in one place.
Employers are not so happy to see PPL done at one school, MECPL done at another, then ME-IR at another school with MCC done at a 4th school!! As said before they want to be able to track your progress from one source with a view to minimising training risk.
If you are going to train commercially attempt to do it all in one place and committ to it full time so you benefit from that continuity of training.
