Private Education: Independent Schools Flashcards
Independent Schools
Definition
7% of population attend fee-paying, private-sector, independent schools
Independent Schools
Walford
Wide diversity of schools, some small (almost homeschooling), some religious (more than 60 Evangelical Christian, more than 50 Muslim)
Parents express choice, not neccessarily elite
Public Schools
Definition
Very expensive private schools
Belong to HMC (Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ conference)- largely upper and upper-middle class
2014- average annual fee of £13,500
Eton + Harrow £35,000
Independent Schools
Walford
Entry seen as passport to academic success, high status uni + influential careers- challenge equality of educational opportunity
Case For Independent Schools
Resources
Better facilities and smaller class sizes- better chance of Uni, especially Oxbridge
Teachers’ salaries higher, attracting better qualified + more experienced teachers
Case For Independent Schools
Sutton Trust
7x as likely as comprehensive school pupils to be accepted to Oxbridge, 55x as likely as FSM + more than 2x as likely to be accepted to top-thirty British Unis (22x FSM)
Case For Independent Schools
Selective
Many selective through entrance exams, so average ability of students higher- maintains high academic standards, reinforced by parental interest
Case For Independent Schools
Right to Choose
Parents should have the right to choose to spend money on education if they want
Case Against Independent Schools
Fairness
Unfairly benefit children of the well-off
Even if worse exam results than state school, better jobs for independent schools
Case Against Independent Schools
Tax- Charity
Traditionally have same tax subsidies + benefits as charities- some top independent schools use charity status to reduce parents’ tax bills
Palfreyman- charity status worth 5-10% of average school fee
Case Against Independent Schools
Tax- Teachers
Taxpayer money pays cost of training teachers (attend state-run unis+colleges)
Money should be spent on improving state education system
Case Against Independent Schools
Quality
Quality of teaching not better- just smaller classes, more attention + better facilities
Eton £25-30,000 a year on each student, £6,500 on state school students
Case Against Independent Schools
Elite Education
Formation of ‘old boys’ networks
Oxbridge 40% private schools, social capital
People in power recruit others from same social background (private school groups)
Meritocracy undermined
