Should private schools be abolished?

[JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam]

Link.

I found this an interesting article. I did not realise that we now have one of the worst social mobility records in developed countries. I find this concerning. I am a fan of the grammar school system having been educated in one myself and having a DC who attends one. I have little experience of private schools though. If I'm honest if I had the money I wouldn't hesitate to use a private school, but that is down to the fact that I realise that it gives a leg up to the students attending, however I realise that this should not be the case.

Should we abolish private schools in the interest of fairness?

Parents and other pupils have zero right to know who is awarded bursaries. Bursaries are completely different to scholarships which, these days, are mainly honorary or give rise to a small discount

I know all this.

The thing is, how would you actually, physically, ban private schools? They are owned by someone so having the state take ownership of the land and buildings means that those owners need to be compensated. Presumably the owners also have the means to dispute this in court.

Or, if the schools are just to be closed, is the state to find places for all the children (over half the children in Westminster go to private school)? Those children who are boarders from overseas would then have to go home.

I don’t think parents in state school would like the things they teach in private schools. Latin. Verbal reasoning. Non verbal reasoning. The private school I know the most about wanted the kids to be reading two years ahead of their age.

All they do is teach things a bit ahead.

Unless you mean prevent anyone from having it as an option? I think there are some parents who live a more international life choose UK private schools because they are some of the best in the world. They are a business. What would you do about those children? Just expect them to study in other countries?

Working through the logic all that will happen is that the very well off will send their kids abroad to study. All you will do is price out the people who can only just about afford a British private education. Actually they would probably consider sending their kids aboard but to a country that can provide it cheaper.

My personal view is that social mobility is very important but it needs to be encouraged in every aspect. Grammar schools, scholarships for private schools and better carers advice so that you can get support to apply to American universities. Also more sponsorships from companies to study or get work experience.

I think sometimes we have low expectations for particular groups and somehow we need to make sure we aren’t holding people back by assumptions about what they are capable of. For example - girls studying physics. Care leavers going to uni.

Some private schools ask children to leave if they aren’t doing well enough.

I remember at my state school some children were not allowed to sit the exam if the school didn’t think they would pass. The reason I think that was given was low attendance. I don’t fully know but I think some very sad things were going on.