FINANCE SCHOOL FEES
✒
For some, of course, opting into “If a child is bright, they will achieve their poorest backgrounds and state schools.”
the state system is not a choice, but a potential in both systems,” continues Sue. However, that does not mean you
financial necessity. There are geographical or “The curriculum at George Abbot is diverse jeopardise a child’s opportunities by opting
professional reasons, too, why families have and versatile, catering for high-achieving for independent education for A levels.
to go single-mindedly in or out. For example, students as well as offering superb support “There is almost no evidence that, to
parents who do not live near a prep school, for children with special needs. They have a date, all of this has had a real bearing on
and who don’t want to send their child to ‘Gifted and Talented’ Register for each year admissions,” argues Paton. “It is certainly not
board at an early age, the case – bar one or two
find the local primary is
“I don’t believe it is a problem to change from
extreme examples – that
the only option. Families significant numbers
who move regularly, or
state to private, or private to state. With
of independent school
live abroad, may find that
a boarding school is the
parental support, children manage fine”
pupils have missed out
on places.
only stable option.
,
“Ultimately, the
Sue Lanson’s three far superior education
children began in private prep schools, but group in order to stretch the clever students.” offered in the independent sector – not least
all are now flourishing at George Abbot, a If they were missing anything by not the fact that they effectively prop up entries
large state secondary in Guildford. “From my being at a public school, what would in the harder subjects such as languages
experience as a teacher and parent in both the Lansons imagine that would be? “I and science – will always ensure that their
state and private sectors, I believe that as remember my husband saying that all students get into the best universities. T_he
parents, we overprotect our children. They you pay for in the private sector is the Government’s meddling in admissions may
are, in fact, very adaptable. We are lucky with ‘conversation in the car park’, ie social create frightening headlines, but the fact is
the provision of schools in Surrey, but I don’t contacts. Sadly, some people may still feel that universities are still fiercely autonomous
believe it’s a problem to change from state like that. What we think is more beneficial beasts. While they fight in a global market
to private, or private to state. With parental is that the state system toughens up the and face increasing competition from
support, children manage fine. I remember children just a little bit, which makes for an universities in the US, Australia and Far
feeling anxious when mine changed into the easier transition into the outside world.” East, genuine excellence will always tip
state system, but I shouldn’t have done. They On the thorny subject of discrimination the balance. In that regard, a decent
slotted in very well.” in university admissions, Graeme Paton, independent school education is still a
Ask her children how they found the the Telegraph’s education editor, says the very worthwhile investment.” %
experience of moving from independent to evidence is “overwhelming, not least because
state, and they merely mention the fact they it is officially endorsed by the Government More information on the schools mentioned:
found more people in a class. It is parents itself. They have set benchmarks for each
d
Colet Court
www.stpaulsschool.org.uk
who agonise over choices of sector. For institution in England to increase the
d
Belhaven Hill
www.belhavenhill.com
children, school is school. number of students recruited from both the
d
George Abbott
http://ga.digitalbrain.com
52 FIRST ELEVEN SPRING 2010 WWW.FIRSTELEVENMAGAZINE.CO.UK
pp50-52FESPR10 Finance InOUT FINAL.indd 52 28/1/10 18:21:34
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