Cleofartra - without living in some sort of communist regime, where all children had identical schooling, regardless of aptitude, ability, specific creative talent (eg sport, music) and where everyone earned an equal income, regardless of whether they worked in a low stress, low skill job or one with high pressure.... how would you create your ideal?
Because even if private schools were outlawed, you would still have variation between state schools. We all know that excellent state schools inflate local house prices. I live in an area with good state schools - but house prices are high. We can only afford to live here because we both work, and earn high incomes.... but then we both only earn high incomes because we both worked damned hard at Universities, then gained higher degrees, then gained professional qualifications, then continued working while our children were small..... do you see what I am saying?
Yes, of course there are people who work equally hard and wouldn't be able to afford school fees (btw we choose not to pay them) - no one has said there is a direct correlation between how hard you work and what you can afford.
There are so many variables. Some people do choose to limit their family to one or two children, because they can afford school fees for that number and no more. Other people would prefer to have three or four children and forego private school. Some people are happy to allow grandparents to pay the fees; others would feel uncomfortable allowing that.
Life is very rarely straightforward choice for any of us - but its about a degree of choice within the certain constraints.
FWIW, I do think the education system has moved a long way and is far less divisive than in the old days of grammar schools (though I know they still exist in some outdated authorities). Generally speaking its quite possible now to achieve well and get into a good University if you are bright enough and motivated, and for many people private schools are an outdated irrelevance. I went to one of the first comprehensive schools in my area. Prior to that, if you didn't pass the 11 plus (ridiculous narrow test which did very little to measure real intelligence) then you'd be stuffed in a secondary modern and not even have access to O Levels. My comp was far from great, and most pupils left at 16, but the opportunity was there to stay on at 6th form, which I did, and went to a RG University and haven't looked back. Ultimately, the home environment and your personal motivation will get you further in life than whether your parents send a cheque off every term.