In Defence of Private Schools

[Wayland1]

What do you think of Labour's private school plans?

Yesterday, Labour delegates voted for plans that would abolish private schools, with plans to remove charitable status and redistribute their endowments, investments and properties to the state sector. In addition, a new social justice commission would be tasked with integrating private schools into the state system.

This amounts to unlawful seizure of private property. Government, in a law-governed society, cannot simply seize private property in peacetime.

Also, you do not improve education by destroying what are some of the UK's best educational institutions. I agree that our education system isn't perfect, and that we may get frustrated at, for example, the excessive fees and running costs of most private schools nowadays. But in my opinion, the way to improve the situation is to have more choice and competition, not less.

What do you think?

I agree actually. I also think Maths in its current form is nuts.

Ideal world at Eton,each science subject is taken-or not-on its own

Ideal world at Eton,each science subject is taken-or not-on its own totally ideal! I did physics and chem but not biology at o level and dd would have liked to have done the same

Schools cater for their communities. If the middle classes who desire extra languages, etc, are not present in large enough numbers to create sufficient demand for these subjects, then the supply isn't going to be there, particularly not if funding levels are low - sufficient funding to enable small classes in some subjects would of course help, as would making the teaching profession look appealing enough that there are actually teachers available to recruit.

The issues in UK schools are really just a reflection of the divided, unequal society we live in. My children are lucky enough to go to state schools large and good enough to cater for a wide range of abilities, needs and interests, including satisfying my rather middle class tastes. Unsurprisingly, we live in an area of relatively low unemployment and generally high aspirations. There is the expectation of good jobs and careers to go to. Leadership in the local schools is also good. Parents are supportive of their children's schools in large enough numbers that the dominant ethos is a positive one.
Schools are being expected to cure society's ills rather than to be a reflection of them, but they are expected to do this on a shoestring. How ridiculous is that?!

@BertrandRussell - a local private school near us allows GCSE students to drop Eng Lit if it's not a strength of theirs. I'd never heard of this before - didn't even realise it was an option!