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?

Please can someone explain to me now getting rid of private schools will help state education so much when there is such a vast difference in state education now?

I went to a state school where the facilities were similar to private schools in the area, and the school had close sporting ties with them but it’s still state run.

The next school along had none of this.

Genuinely interested how this will help bridge these already massively unfair gaps?

I love the comparison against schools in Finland. People there pay 40-50% tax if you include both income tax and compulsory municipality tax. They are PAYING for small class sizes and equality in education.

Here we seem to have the mentality of wanting the lowest possible taxes but best in class education and healthcare. The money has to come from somewhere.

Too much socialist tripe on here. Yes we do work hard for our money, and yes it is our choice to spend it on sending our kids to schools where all the kids there have aspirations like we do. Not the local comp where exclusion rates are so high, they turnover 3 or 4 whole classes a year and barely half the kids get a decent grade. My parents lost everything during my teens. We were evicted from our bed-sit the night before my A level exams started. But we picked ourselves up and moved on. My parents were both dying from cancer and we were broke. I worked throughout my studies to support my family. Did A levels, degree at night school, professional exams for 3 years on top...yes I have worked bloody hard. And now I have chosen to not spend MY money on a big house or new car, like some people do, but on making sure my kids are surrounded by the same aspiration I once was. My mother would never have expected a penny from the state. It was called get up and get on with it. Too many people expect to live on an equal footing, while doing sod all in comparison. So yes, idle envy it is. Nothing more, nothing less. And with that..I’m off to work.

Well said Mumto2two!

Can nobody see that these tactics by politicians are just for votes? Haven’t we seen the results of that before (Cameron & the Referendum)?
The percentage of privately educated children in this country stands at just 7%. That’s minuscule! And they are not all like Eton either! I agree that closing them would put an extra burden on the state education system and house prices in ‘good’ school areas will rocket (although doesn’t Corbyn want to get rid of Ofsted too)? Maybe his master plan is to ensure nobody knows how good any school is in the future!

Before you know it we will be limited to 2 children only and living in a state where freedom of choice is removed altogether! We all know that works well right? Maybe on paper but not in practice. Don’t be fooled into thinking it will be a fair system. You work hard in life and achieve your best, whatever your background/schooling etc Removing freedom of choice is wrong.

Made the mistake last night of watching channel 4 news and one of the worst interviews Ive ever seen,Lady Chakrabarti-"John, call me Shami" waffling on about"posh boys",putting aside she looked and sounded like she'd had a very good lunch...".posh boys"..really...Shami your son tried to get into Eton, he failed and is now at Dulwich.."posh boys"..give me a break...The utter hypocrisy of these people..

All the people I know in real life who have battled their way out of poverty and disadvantage are incredibly eager to help others do the same. Rather than say mean spirited things like “It was called get up and get on with it. Too many people expect to live on an equal footing, while doing sod all in comparison.“

The 7% figure that is constantly trotted out is misleading to say the least,that is a %across all age groups, at A level the figure is about 15/16%,so when people talk about restricting Oxbridge places to 7% they know they are being a little economic with the actualite,or maybe not, considering the labour party think that someone who didn't manage a single gcse should be shadow education minister.

Those insisting that politicials send their DCs to state schools need to remember that they always choose the same top performing London schools for their DCs, Grey Coat or The Oratory. And despite both being oversubscribed and the parents living miles away they always manage to get a place. No politician's child will ever attend a bad school in any sector. I believe that once Cameron left office his DS was quickly shipped off to St Pauls juniors? But he is most likely to follow daddy and move to Eton at 13.

I don't actually expect any better from the Tories but so called socialists like Shameless Chakrabarti and her sons attempt at Eton infuriate me. "People before Privilege" my arse.

“Those insisting that politicials send their DCs to state schools need to remember that they always choose the same top performing London schools for their DCs, Grey Coat or The Oratory”
I don’t think all politicians live in London, do they?

Well yes Bertrand most live here during parliament and send their DCs to school in the capital. It is a London based job with long working hours and very few are able to make it work unless the family moves with them. I am very fortunate because I work from home a lot hence posting nonsense on MN when waiting for skype meetings but not everyone has it so easy. Hence MPs expense allowances for running a second home and moving their family here etc.

The old ‘we work hard for our money’ shit. Was waiting for that to be rolled out. And the point is to try and get all schools up to standard but this is also never going to happen in the shite system we have now. Why should only the rich and entitled benefit from a great and privileged education? Yes, I understand it will involve a lot of money being thrown at it but most things do if they need to be improved and surely the education of our children is worth it?

Shami your son tried to get into Eton, he failed and is now at Dulwich.."posh boys"..give me a break...The utter hypocrisy of these people..

Nolans I agree. Did anyone take her up on her hypocrisy? I feel a bit sorry for son actually, as I guess his school friends’ parents will be saying exactly the same.

How often would you like people on the left to agree that Abbott and Chakrabhati are shockingly hypocritical? People always drag out these two as if it’s some sort of revelation! Incidentally, Cameron did the Church thing- which considering he has said that he is not a Christian is, in my book, just as bad. If not worse.

Just because the state sector is unequal and unfair - or some state schools more equal than others - does not mean we should give up on moderating all injustices where we can. Private education is a very obvious magnifier of existing social inequality, and there are some straightforward remedies on tap; charitable status removal, VAT imposition, whathaveyou.
Abolition/confiscation might be more complicated and maybe not worth the political aggro. Getting to grips with/properly funding the state sector is a higher priority in my view. I'd love to see the day when private schools only made sense for those, perhaps, with very special needs of some kind, and were easily outstripped for everyone else by a dynamic, well-funded and wholly-inclusive state sector, working as a national team to share best practice for all (and not in petty competition with each other for the most able pupils, like the private schools, and state schools in some places, currently are).

Mr J Snow on channel 4....no of course he didn't mention it,the interview was awful,

The boy is indeed in an awkward position,I would hope he isnt getting any grief,its not his fault,but I certainly imagine parents evenings etc are interesting
Eton is such an easy target but in reality its an awful target,I doubt if any other school beyond Christs Hospital does more in terms of bursaries ,let alone partnerships with state schools etc,

Nolans - hmm....I wonder where John Snow’s children went to school.

Eton’s bursaries are interesting. IIRC, you can start thinking about applying for one once the family income drops below something like £100,000pa.

Not sure where the idea that there are no private schools cones from. There are loads.

Sorry that should read - not sure where the idea that there are no private schools in Finland comes from -

www.expat-finland.com/living_in_finland/international_schools.html

Are there any countries - outside North Korea- where there are no private schools at all?

I see from Eton's website that they spent £6.4m in 2017/18 on scholarships and bursaries. 254 boys have means-tested bursaries (averaging 65% of fees) and 82 paid no fees at all.

No doubt it's a rich school and perhaps they could do more, but it's not bad.

I think any discussion on private education needs to recognise both the diversity of private schools and the reasons why people use them. I never imagined I would send my DC to private school. Both me and DH are state educated and very committed to the principles of a good state system. However, our oldest DD has mild SpLD which were not supported at the generally good comp she attended, and she became increasingly distressed, anxious and depressed. With a very heavy heart we sent her to a small private school where she has thrived. For us it wasn't about maintaining (or trying to gain) privilege, but trying to support our very distressed DD. Will she get advantages through influential contacts etc.? Probably not at this school as the parent profile is pretty broad with very few real high flyers and the kids tend to be those who are of average ability but for some reason or another wouldn't thrive in the state system.

Obviously there is an element of inequality because we can afford to send her and many other parents with kids with similar issues who would benefit can't. However, she was already disadvantaged by her learning disability and until state schools can truly support those with extra needs they will be perpetuating a different type of inequality.

Not bad. lol.....go and look at the accounts of other big name schools that dont get half the grief Eton does,.schools like Westminster ….as I said only Christs Hospital compares..

Its now over 90 pupils paying nothing..

I’d be interested in the backgrounds of the pupils paying nothing.

And the Etonians on bursaries are still paying about 25,000 a year. So not really particularly inclusive!