Independent schools Flashcards
Independent sector education
are not controlled by the government.
They are fee paying schools – parents have to pay for their
child to attend.
They tend to be boarding schools so children live at the
school during term time. Preparatory schools are independent primary schools.
Public schools are seen as the best of the schools in the
independent sector.
What are state schools
Funded by the government
Free for children to attend
Private schools
Funded by the parents who pay for their child to go to
that school
Public schools
These are the most exclusive and expensive
private schools
Funded by the parents who pay for their child
to go to that school
Often have tough entry criteria
Why do people go to independent schools
Attendance to independent schools leads
to Oxbridge and top jobs in the civil service. This tends to be associated with the old boys’ network – a way of passing social connections from generation to generation.
How does the old boys network work
1.A child is born into a wealthy family.
2.The family can afford to send the child to top preparatory and public schools.
3.From these top schools, the child easily enters Oxford and
Cambridge Uni.
4. When they graduate, they go for an interview at a top
firm. The chances are the person interviewing them went to
school with their dad and is a family friend. They get the
job.
5.They meet someone from the same social background and marry.
The cycle then repeats and its A way of keeping power and wealth in the hands of minority by ensuring their children get the top jobs through their social connections.
Assisted Places Scheme
Conservative government policy from the 1980s of
paying for ‘clever’ students from poorer backgrounds
to attend a private school.
Ultimately, it only benefitted the middle class as their
parents had the cultural capital to know about the
scheme and how to apply for it.
It was abolished by New Labour.
Why do students in independent schools achieve so
much better than students in state schools?
Smaller class sizes
Better facilities
Longer school hours
Better discipline
Good things about public schools
People should be free to spend their money the way they choose, including on education for their children.
Independent schools are a part of British tradition. They are successful and should therefore be left alone.
Independent schools are better than state schools – they have better results, resources, class sizes and discipline.
It is good that there is a diversity of schools for parents and children to choose from.
The existence of independent schools in a borough increases competition between schools thus helping to improve standards in all schools.
Against public schools
The ruling class lack the motivation to
improve the state sector as they tend to
send their children to independent
schools.
The system perpetuates divisions in
society. Public school students have an
unfair advantage of sponsored mobility –
being prepared for the rise to the top.
Independent schools fail to promote
cultural diversity as they attract upper
and middle class, white students. These
children then miss out on integrating
with other social groups.
