In Defence of Private Schools

[Wayland1]

What do you think of Labour's private school plans?

Yesterday, Labour delegates voted for plans that would abolish private schools, with plans to remove charitable status and redistribute their endowments, investments and properties to the state sector. In addition, a new social justice commission would be tasked with integrating private schools into the state system.

This amounts to unlawful seizure of private property. Government, in a law-governed society, cannot simply seize private property in peacetime.

Also, you do not improve education by destroying what are some of the UK's best educational institutions. I agree that our education system isn't perfect, and that we may get frustrated at, for example, the excessive fees and running costs of most private schools nowadays. But in my opinion, the way to improve the situation is to have more choice and competition, not less.

What do you think?

[Spinderellacutituponetime]

I think if we didn’t have private schools state education would be much improved. Private schools promote inequality and a sense of entitlement and I would be happy to see the back of them.

[Wayland1]

Spinderellacutituponetime

I don't agree. Without the private sector, you would have no competition, just a state monopoly. I don't see how that would improve state education.

[CendrillonSings]

Labour’s plans are a mixture of spite, economic illiteracy, and far left lunacy.

So pretty normal for them, really!

[Bobbybobbins]

As a teacher, I would never teach in a private school. It's not for me.

However I would be very concerned about the closure of independent special schools which support a lot of children with a very high level of need.

[Wayland1]

CendrillonSings

Labour’s plans are a mixture of spite, economic illiteracy, and far left lunacy.

Yes, they are.

[Spinderellacutituponetime]

‘Finland, who abolished all private schools in the 1970s, are since widely viewed to have one of the best education systems in the world. They have a 100% literacy rate, no school league tables, no exams until 16 – and one of the most equal societies in the entire world.‘

[Wayland1]

@Spinderellacutituponetime

But it's ironic that Finns often come to the UK to learn from what our best private schools are doing.

[GooseFeather]

How would getting rid of the independent sector improve state education? What does removing it do that directly makes state schools better? Improving the state sector requires significant investment, not an influx of another 600k children.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

I think fewer people would use private schools in some areas if state schools were better. Ditto SEN provision.

I also think that you'll never stop people paying for private tutors to top up state education.

However, if 'the rich' were all forced to send their children to state schools then the interested and well off parents would be in a position to help those schools improve. Though it might just push up prices in catchment areas so 'the rich' would still end up in better schools (unless you are going to stop people donating to schools/PTAs). The very rich would just send kids abroad instead potentially.

There is more to be said for abolishing grammar schools which due to tutoring culture unfairly act against lower income families.

I think continuing to encourage universities to do contextualised offers, and banning companies from offering unpaid internships would be preferable.

[MsTSwift]

I think anyone arguing in favour of private schools is on pretty shaky ground atm considering the unholy mess the Eton clique have got us into

[Wayland1]

@MsTSwift

The fact that state schools are not producing many great leaders is not the fault of Eton.

[ooooohbetty]

Just another bonkers desperate policy from Corbyn and his cronies who will try anything to get votes. It's pathetic.

[MsTSwift]

Hilarious. They get to the top because of bias not talent as any fule knos

[Ponzischeme]

The fact that state schools are not producing many great leaders is not the fault of Eton

I don't see Eton producing great leaders either.

I hate private schools, they are utterly unethical. I don't know what the solution is, but they don't sit right with me at all.

[Mumto2two]

And part of the Finnish success, has been down to massively improved funding, class sizes of 20 etc.. and if the state needs to accommodate the many thousands of children that are being privately educated, (in spite of paying taxes like those who don’t), it will have an even bigger burden than before. Labour lunacy at its best!

[TeenPlusTwenties]

So what you need to abolish is 'the old boys network' and maybe with it a very few top public schools, not every private school in the country.

I'd go for encouraging meritocracy for entering into influential professions (hence comment above re no unpaid internships etc)

[Sewingbea]

But it's ironic that Finns often come to the UK to learn from what our best private schools are doing. That is very interesting. Which Finn's and when? Is there a research paper / report about that? I'd be interested to read it.

[Verily1]

If state schools had a maximum class size of 25 most private schools would go out of business.

[Wayland1]

@TeenPlusTwenties

I think the whole the old boys network thing is rather exaggerated. The main reason people from private schools tend to get better jobs is because private schools on average provide a better education.

[Mumto2two]

How is parental choice unethical? There are many parents like us, who have remortgaged modest homes to the hilt, because that is what we wanted for our children. Our neighbours on the other hand, take multiple holidays a year, and chose to spend their recent inheritance on a fancy extension and a top end car.... it’s called choice!

[Wayland1]

@Verily1

I don't think it's all about class sizes. Teaching methods and curriculum are also very important.

[Grasspigeons]

I've decided a state monopoly on education does not raise standards - especially in a system where each minister for education has a big impact. I just feel that something outside of politics is an essential reminder of what education should be.
I also support home education so i have to support private education as another form of arranging your childs education.

[NumberblockNo1]

Ha you believe that!? 🤣

[Ponzischeme]

Of course a choice can be unethical

[SpaghettiSharon]

The Finns have highly funded state education because they’re smart enough to understand the link between higher taxation and improved public services. Unfortunately the great British publish think you can pay fuck all in tax but still have a functioning health service and a well funded education system.

The elite in this country have a (very) vested interest in keeping everyone else uneducated. You only have to look at the current desperate situation and read the comments on line to see how successful their policy has been.

I’m sick of the “politics of envy” bullshit. It’s not envy it’s desperate inequality and it stinks.