David Cameron would move house to get his child into a decent school. Why doesn't he just go private

[jollydiane]

In the Evening Standard it said that David Cameron would move house to get his child into a decent school. Why doesn?t he just go private and let a parent who does not have the means to move house have the place ? or am I just being unreasonable?

YANBU... He could, of course, send the child to an independent school but that would look like normal Tory behaviour elitism and he is desperate to be seen as a leader for all and not just another Tory leader. It might also imply that one can, in fact, buy a better education than that provided by the state. Which, of course, in many cases you can.

AS an old Etonian who married into minor aristocracy I think it's highly unlikely that his children will go to any state school, but if they do, rest assured it will be one of the very best in the country, and though quite possibly out of his catchment, he'll have no problem getting them in, a la Tony Blair. You don't think for one minute that any high profile politian, Tory or otherwise would allow their children to attend a failing, lacklustre or mediochre state school do you?

Having said that I do find your argument rather strange. People who send their kids private are usually lambasted for 'holding back' state schools (never quite got that myself, can't see how my children not being in a state school can affect the school's results either way) but the idea that if you are affluent you owe it to a poorer child to not avail yourself of paid-for-through taxes state school places? Hmm.

He can afford to send his children to a stats school because he has money, connections... let's face it, the child of the leader of the opposition/potentially PM will not exactly be held back in life, will they? They will flounce out of school into uni or work placements at Coutts or Southerbys. Hardly 'ordinary folk' eh? I find it irritating that he didn't send his kids to one of the closer primary schools that don't have the good reputation that his one does (which are actually a lot closer to his house). Fair rules for all?

Well, he can afford to move into the catchment area for a good school, and I can't. There shouldn't be such a big discrepancy between schools.

yes, nightbynight. that is the long and short of it. i entirely agree. Sorry, i think i've missed the boat here but a very interesting threat with political activism accusations left right and centre! I find the topic of catchment areas very interesting indeed. and particularly when it comes to David Cameron who used to (kind of still does...) live down the road from me in W10. My situation is the following: i'm facing somewhat of a moral conundrum: my parents had very little money but scraped to send me to a private school in London. I have the good fortune of being able to afford to send my kids to private school but i'm not sure i want to. I know Oxford Gardens primary doesn't have a great ofsted report but i quite like it and am considering sending my daughter there. It has great facilities and is incredibly multi-cultural. however, one problem with that is that many kids (at least 60%) do not speak English as a first language and i'm concerned my daughter's English may suffer as a consequence. Am i being over-sensitive? worrying too much? Back to the argument of catchment areas, i've always had trouble to accept wealthy parents moving to postcodes with high-ranking schools in order to allow their kids a good free state education. I guess they're acting in their children's best interest which is laudable, but i just can't help thinking it's a bit cheap! Surely if you've got the means to send your child to a good school why not do it and live in your favourite area. Regarding David Cameron, his case is clearly somewhat of an anomaly. i mean how many parents have a combined salary of over half a million a year? (and that was before he became PM). On top of that both him and his wife are clearly 'old money' so if their hard-earned cash didn't pay for the house, their parents would have easily stepped in. Either way it's all academic anyway because the choice of him moving to w10 was hugely politically motivated and geared towards painting a more aspirational public image; stayed in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea but moved to North Ken - a little rougher round the edges to say 'i'm posh, but kind of street too'. when he said he would do what it takes to get his kids to a good state school, i agree with many of the previous posts that he only said that to put the boot in on education under labour. he obviously wouldn't think twice about sending his kids to private school, and nor should he if that's what he feels right. What i dont like is the hypocrisy. His daughter goes to Pembridge Hall - one of the most expensive primary schools in the country (14K a year i believe - but again that's a drop in the ocean for a net family annual income of 300K+). So David, cut the crap already! Another thing that bothers me about DC is that after all his wonderful education, he didn't even have the decency to thank my husband for sending him a pair of smart cycle panniers (my hubby's done his own line of cycling apparel). Now that's gratitude for you! Anyway i return to nightbynight's post: "There shouldn't be such a big discrepancy between schools." and there we go... full circle, that's ultimately what it comes down to. Sorry for the digressive rant!

good state schools DO exist.
and they produce fantastic individuals who dont equate money to well educated [as is v. Tory]
private schools can be great for some some kids, bad for others, as can state schools. just because your local state school has lower grades than your local private, doesnt mean your child will do any better at private or any worse at state.

whatever he's doing, he should be supporting our state school system and trying to improve those schools that need help.

Well NOW we know why he was running for Prime Minister.

Is 10 Downing Street in the catchment area for some super amazing state schools?

"Because all the mnetters would go mental! "...... eeer..... most already are

I thought his daughter went to St Mary Abbotts - Oxford Gardens (nearest school) not good enough for him!

Quibble said 'Ah! of course, that would be to appease the critics who suggest he's an out-of-touch, toff, cushioned by inherited wealth and favour. '

One third of MPs went to private school - across the board not just Tories. You only have to look up individuals on the web to see who went where.

Not sure it is a third across the board. Aren't the stats:

Conservative 54%
LibDem 40%
Labour 15%

Well, that could of course be a third of all MPs, I realise (can't be arsed doing the sums).