Alan Bennett: Ban Public Schools

[DaDaDa]

Have we done this one yet?

In an ideal world, I agree with him.

lights blue touch paper, retires to safe distance with nice cup of tea and digestive biscuit

54% at Oxford, 57% at Cambridge, apparently.

Not considerably over 50%, but massively above 20%.

Nothing wrong with a good comprehensive, Da. I know what you mean about social confidence though- for me , the key has been to encourage my dd to ask questions and not be scared od challenging authority (backfiring on me a bit ) and boosting her confidence, of course

Ah, but what state schools!

Incidentally, I used to teach in Alan Bennett's old school. Or rather the comprehensive now housed in the same building .

Well, not now housed as it's been pulled down since I left...

Great story TUM

I agree. Abolish them. Abolish faith school at the same time.

And why do all ex-public school boys wear RED socks?

what a ridiculous idea
ban public schools how stupid is that

wait till they can run the state schools properly

i'm with hundredtimes and cazzybabs
and most people who privately educate are not "upper classes"
loads of them go without stuff to pay for it because they're not happy with the state system

Kathy - that is what already happens. Most private schools have scholarships that are available ONLY to kids who have been in the state system. The scholarships are now mostly means-tested so that wealthy but brainy kids wouldn't qualify (as a result of the charity status thing).

To be honest a lot of public schools are full of chavs these days.

we could start by abolishing their charitable status (which is just a nonsense). oh and abolishing faith schools.
see where we go from there

I think I'd have to go without a house to pay for it. For the vast majority (for everyone I know) it is not an option. So there is the rub - its not fair.

My (limited) experience of the state school system in the US was very much that it was utterly fantastic - provided you lived in a rich area. But very, very few people go private.

No private schools, no faith schools. Just one excellent school per area, walkable or school-bussed to, for every child

Yes I know, I live in la-la land, but that's undoubtedly the way it should be.

I suppose to make it work the way it should we would also have to ensure low-cost housing was everywhere mixed in with the high-cost enclaves of the rich, but hey, we should anyway, shouldn't we?

crap idea. chicken and egg scenario.

state school system isn't good enough. just banning private schools isn't going to make it better.

improve state schools FIRST. then there won't be a NEED for private schools.

No, get those who can afford public education to invest their money in the state system via tax or some method - I've already said I would gladly pay extra tax for this.

Then the state system would improve and the schls would be a better mix.

One of the nicest things about my kids primary is the mix - I really think all this moving to get in the best schl or public schls must really give a bland cross section. Only those who can afford it.

the state schools aren't just short of funding
it's the philosophy.. the national curriculum.. the whole thing
it's not just funding and resources and swimming pools

Agree, it's not just that, I mean lack of funding. Lots of private schools - rather than the big posh public schools - struggle to keep up with the government on the amount they pay per child. Strange but true. Lots have foundations and things which keep them going, and allow them to keep fees relatively low. There are lots of different sorts of schools within the private sector, as there are in the government maintained sector, it's not completely straight forward.

But agree, with niceglasses that it is unfair. And that is unfair. Lots of things are unfair, and they shouldn't be.

what philosophy?

I honestly think it is vastly simplistic to think that state schools have one philosophy and private schools have another.
I don't think you can make those sort of sweeping statements.

I guess the philosophy of inclusivity/exclusivity is different

I just can't see how it would work at all.

Ban private schools and then what?

It is obvious where those children will end up...in the best schools, as they will move to ensure they are in the best catchment areas, or they will pay for tutors to ensure they get into the grammer or selective state schools.

And those parents paying out for private school are not going to just suddenly start paying thier £xxxx a term into a state school. They will use it for other other things - wrap around care for their child, tutors, extra curricular activities, etc.

And presumably we also have to ban home education too? Otherwise you will just get groups of people not happy with having their schools closed down decided to group togther to do home ed groups. Which still doesn't help the system.

Oh and of course we must also get rid of grammar schools and any state selective schools. Otherwise fairness will not be there.

What needs to happen is a complete overhaul of the state education system. That can happen regardless, it doesn't need you to close down other types of schools.

in what way mrsr? I suppose that is a good general point on being included by your ability to pay, but then not true in the finer detail: some state school include only according to religion/ faith or academic ability don't they?

Private schools are not the only schools that struggle with the exclusivity issues - look at grammar schools, faith schools, selective state schools, schools where catchment is in a wealthy area with highly priced housing...