INDEX education
nursery to bursary
Caroline Knight looks at the tricky issue of state versus private education
The emotionally-charged topic of private education versus state is one that affects many families. But one hopes that the ultimate decision would be based on the needs of the youngster. Some children thrive in the bustle of a state school, while others feel more nurtured in a smaller private school environment. Of course the fi nancial consideration takes precedence.
Private schooling does not necessarily mean Eton or Harrow. Most provide a good education with the advantage of small class sizes, and many offer subjects not available in state schools. Pupils at both ends of the academic spectrum benefi t from the main thing money can buy: more time per pupil. The costs, however, are considerable. A senior boarding school can amount to over £20,000 per year and day pupils can expect to pay £15,000. There are ways of reducing fees. Bursaries are means tested and given to pupils within
the school whose parents are suffering what is kindly referred to as ‘reduced circumstances’. Parents in certain professions, and those who work abroad may have some of the fees paid by their employer. Scholarships are awarded to pupils showing excellence and provide a discount on fees. Also remember to build in costs for uniform, books, trips, transport and extra-curricular activities. An estimate for the costs from four to 16 of private education is £200,000 for day pupils. Compare this to £14,000 for a state school pupil. This makes the state system seem attractive, and there are many excellent schools from which to choose. Add to this the benefi ts of encouraging children to mix with others from across the range of social divides and the lifelong advantages they gain from having absorbed a ‘normal’ population sample, and the option is almost irresistible. It is often the snobbery of parents that leads to private education, rather than the long-
term benefi ts to the child. There are always
compromises, however. Some choose to use state schools for primary education and private schools for the secondary years. Or some choose the grammar system – Kent is one of the few counties still left with this option. Grammar schools are a halfway point between state and private education, except parents do not pay. The child seals his or her own fate by passing or failing the 11 plus exam. Fine for those who pass but grim for those who don’t. Both the state and the
independent systems in the UK are highly regarded and produce excellent results. Pupils might emerge from the latter with shinier shoes, but the formal qualifi cations are equal. There will always be children who sail above or below the average marker post and there is no way of knowing whether a different education system would have changed the outcome. It is best to work with what you have got – the world needs vocational as well as academic achievers and a happy, well-balanced school leaver is the greatest prize any parent could possibly wish for.
Course of the month Learn to cook fish
If you love eating fi sh, but fi nd the cooking of it a bit of a mystery then a one-day course at Encounters in Chillenden with Penny Easton could help you. The day, which will focus on taste, presentation and fresh local ingredients, costs £110 and will consist of two cooking sessions. Saturday 28 January, 10am-4pm. See
www.cookingcourses.co.uk or call 01304 841136.
Star pupil: Kishan Koria, Kent College
Kishan Koria won the Royal Historical Frampton Prize for A-Level History 2011, which is awarded to the student who wrote the best OCR exam paper.
Kishan said “If I’m honest the history prize I was awarded was a shock, albeit a very pleasant one! I was lucky enough for everything to go right during my A-Level History course and I think this was clearly infl uenced by the fantastic teaching I received at
www.indexmagazine.co.uk
KC, in a truly interesting subject. I’ve now begun studying for an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford and am thoroughly enjoying it so far.” Graham Noble, Head of History at Kent College “I met Kishan when he came to Kent College for interview as a Year 6 pupil. He said that he had heard I was the Head of History, so he had brought me some of his history fi les to look at. They were immaculate: detailed,
fl uent and full of ideas. And he didn’t let his standards slip over the next seven years. Kishan was always ready to get himself involved in school life, whether as a Head Boy, a skilful debater or a candidate in the mock election.
“He was admired for 33
his scholarship but also liked throughout the school for his modest charm and willingness to help others.”
From
The INDEX magazine January 2012
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