Shouldnt equal education be available to everyone?

[angell84]

I have just returned to the U.K. after a very long period abroad, and I am shocked at the school system in the U.K. I lived in another country where equal education was available to everyone.

Why do we have comprehensive, and independant and fee paying schools in the U.K? Why is better education given to those with money who can afford it? Shouldn't equal education be available to everyone?
The discrimination in education - is shocking in the U.K.

@angell84 So because everyone cannot afford it no-one should have it?

I completely disagree with that. It makes you sound quite entitled tbh.

I went to state school as did everyone in my whole and extended family.. I've worked my ass of to save and send my DD to private school and am proud of myself for being able to do it.

Do you think your a bit bitter that you haven't been able to do this for your own kids?

Op. You think we should do away with private schools ( which by the way all countries have, not just the uk). Often these schools do scholarships to help those that are bright but can’t afford

How are you going to equalise the education children get in state schools? That’s not equal now, and I bet wasn’t equal in whatever country you have just left. We have league tables, look them up and see the difference

Then let’s move onto higher education then, how are you going to make all universities equal? After all it’s all part of education, why should some have more standing that others?

The basic human right to education is met in this country it’s called state schools

If you don’t like it then please feel free to move back to wherever you were previously living, where I bet they had private schools, league table state schools and differences in the universities

Oh I also pay for private therapy for my child with SEN above what the NHS will provide.

Here is an article from the Guardian.

"Members of Britain’s elite, who hold the top jobs in politics, the judiciary, media and business, are five times more likely to have been to private school than the general population, according to research."

So, people in the most well paid jobs in he U.K. are five times more likely to have gone to private schools.

So people who can afford to go to private schools, get the best jobs in the country.

You think that's okay?

@Chloemol state schools are all equal in the country that I just left.

There are no league tables, which are another U.K . elitist thing.

It's life though isn't it?
People will always want what they can't have.
I don't agree anyone should be able to tell me what to spend my money on. I've worked very hard, long, antisocial hours and if I choose to put that hard earned money towards my children's education that's my business and no one else's.

My son goes to what is in my view an excellent state school. I can assure you that he does not feel segregated or inferior in any way because his poor old single mum can't afford private education. He is not in a 'poor' school.
He is in a school which meets his needs and has got the best out of him. He is having private English tuition in the last few months leading up to GCSEs. Thats not because of any deficiency in the school, he has additional needs and just needs a bit more.
The vast majority of children in the UK go to some form of state school, some are good, others not so much, just as with private schools.

In my local area the state schools are very good. However, they're split in to religious, emphasis on science, emphasis on sports. They do come out with very good results and I'd imagine parents/children make their selection based on what they offer. The point is no one school can always offer everything as there really isn't the funding avaliable and they prioritise what they can. So yes, if your child wants to have the opportunity to play rugby (often considered an elite sport vs football), then yes they can. Or if they want to focus on science or benefit from a great IT department then they can. You could argue that everything should be offered to a top notch standard but there really isn't enough money, and if you want that you need to be prepared to fund it yourself.

What country was it you came from OP? You seem to be ignoring everyone who has asked. Why won’t you say?

FWIW, OP, I completely agree with you. The levels of inequality in this country (in everything, not just education) are astounding and wrong.

Unfortunately, the majority of posters here will disagree with you because MN's demographic is mostly middle class white women who benefit from that inequality.

state schools are all equal in the country that I just left.

North Korea sounds like a wonderful place

But where is this extra money going to come from? The government isn't going to generate an extra pot of X billions to do this. So effectively if it was argued for then taxes would increase and the hardest hit people would be those on NMW, or just above the threshold. Taking extra money from those who need it most isn't going to benefit children either.

You are very confi. There isn't a UK education system.
Scotland, Wales, NI, and England have their own completely separate systems.
Which one are you attacking?

You do realise that there is enormous variation between state maintained schools, let alone state maintened and fee paying schools?

I sympathise with your view, OP. But the system is very entrenched, and this government is very right wing.
I admit to "playing the system", with a child at private school on a scholarship. It has given her opportunities not available to her in the state system, and she has thrived on it. I would prefer to see the end of the private school system, with a good comprehensive system with plenty of setting. As far as universities are concerned, having some with higher expectations attracting brighter students may be a good thing? If they charge the same, as currently.

There are good state schools and bad state schools. The worst performing state schools tend to be in poorer areas. Abolish private schools there will still be disadvantages for those who are on low incomes.

Does the country you came from OP have such a wide demographic as England?

Thank heavens we do have an independent sector. I sent my youngest DD to private school because she was being beaten-up on a regular basis in her state school , just for having red hair !. The difference in standards , on just about every level, between the two schools was shocking. And whereas her private school took pastoral care very seriously her state school told me there was little they could do , and it was the Police who suggest the private school to me. So you won't find me buying into you utopian world of a perfect social society.

I just feel there's no clear answer. Deprived areas will remain deprived because there isn't room for development in some cases to increase them. In some areas primary school and comprehensives have had to close due to low numbers of children attending as there genuinely isn't enough economic income in the areas to encourage families to not move. There really is no point in massive cash injections into funding education in areas where there aren't enough children to make it viable. On the other hand families that can't afford to leave, then have to pay a premium in bus fares to transport their kids to the next nearest school if they aren't eligible for free passes. In my mind being able to even access schooling for your children comes as a higher priority than arguing they may not have access to the same level of private education accessed by some.

There shouldn't be selection at 11 as there is in some areas. Horrible that some kids are made to feel failures at that stage and comprehensives can cater perfectly well through setting for the brightest students. As for private ...meh..... Don't think we can do much about that ... But yes you are right all kids should have access to the same education. It would mean all comprehensive though as I doubt the taxpayer could afford to pay for Eton to take over and set up its system in all our schools 😄

Certain independent schools in this country definitely entrench privilege & power. There is a mumsnet thread titled eton v harrow, discussing how fiercely loyal old boys are to each other - all boys of course. Wonder how our prime minster would have done had he gone to the local comp.

That being said my sen child is at a private school and I am so grateful for that, the state system would have destroyed him.

There is the argument if they didn’t exist it pressure politicians to improve the state system. But that doesn’t seem to be the direction this country is taking. Lack of social mobility isn’t a good thing.

But didn't John Major not attend university? So he was definately not one of the 'old boys club', regardless of how well/not well he performed as PM it certainly didn't hinder him and as a Conservative to boot. So the argument is still there to state if you want it enough you can achieve it without the 'leg up' from private schooling/money. I believe he attended a grammar but clearly got in on educational merit vs parents finances?

OP, you sound very controlling. You have decided you know better than an entire social system built up over centuries, and you threaten people who disagree with you with the report button.

I, like juansheet am a single mum, absent dad, and I send my ds to private school because it allows me to work. I can rely on them to care for him if I am late home, get caught in traffic or have to travel overnight occasionally.
I don’t have holidays or expensive clothes, I drive an ancient car, And that is my choice.

Before you criticise an entire country, take a close look at where the leaders of the country you just left, went to university! You might be surprised

Which country did you live in?

OP won't specify the country... Presumably because they'd have their own shortfall in regards to some service provision? Which is frankly to only be expected as no country/economy is rich enough to cover all the bases without something having to give somewhere. There is nothing wrong with wanting or expecting more, but you literally can't facilitate every expenditure without something having a shortfall? Be that privatised vs public funded healthcare or schooling. There will never be enough money generated to provide a level playing field for everyone, because there will never be enough money in the pot. People might not like it but its true.

Plus in areas that offer grammar schools. I don't believe you actively have to opt in for your children to sit the exam? So its not a case of children feeling their 'less' if they don't pass? They don't have to do the exam if they/their parents choose to decline. Just the same as nobody has to apply for university, nor do they have to attend 6th form if they choose to go down the vocational route instead.