Government to turn failing private schools into academies

[badgermonkey]

www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jan/31/private-schools-nationalised-academies

There is one of these near us, Birkenhead girls school, it was failing on academic standards as well as financially, so all the parents who could afford the fee's took their girls out and now it will be selecting by interview at age 4 and 11 for the 20 places in each year group.
In the meantime the tax payer is paying for an exclusive education for the children aged 5 to 10 and 12 to 17 whilst the new non fee paying children but still selective, come through the ranks.
Am not jealous though because all the good staff left immediately upon the announcement.
The buildings are falling apart and not up to LEA standard so the place will be a money pit for many years.
What a waste.

i dont get why they are doing this, why cant the schools just shut? would the sudden influx of pupils cause too many problems at the state schools they moved too?

But in this case in Birkenhead they just moved to other private schools, there was no massive intake at the local state schools.

I think it is abhorent as them being classed as 'charities', The biggest tax rob this country has ever seen.

If they aren't coping in this economic climate maybe they were along the lines of woolies and Zavvi and just not good enough.