Another Tory idea stolen by Labour

[Mich the Tester]

And what pray would a bunch of Eton-educated twats know, or care, about improving state education?

All the other public school twats hate Eton too. Can’t think why

[expat]

All the other public school twats hate Eton too. Can’t think why

I had a flatmate once who went to Eton and he hated it too. Only discovered that when we interviewed for a new flatmate: one was an Eton twat. I feared that the existing Eton boy would pick him. Not a chance

[DodgyAgent]

And what pray would a bunch of Eton-educated twats know, or care, about improving state education?

It is quite interesting how Eton stirs up good old fear and envy (why else would people generalise about a group who they hardly know?)

Perhaps if the state schools were run more like Eton then maybe we would have a better education system.

[_V_]

It is quite interesting how Eton stirs up good old fear and envy (why else would people generalise about a group who they hardly know?)

Perhaps if the state schools were run more like Eton then maybe we would have a better education system.

The class divide is alive and well on CUK.

[DodgyAgent]

The class divide is alive and well on CUK.

you are quite right V. It is though all in the mind of those here with their inferiority complexes.

[TimberWolf]

you are quite right V. It is though all in the mind of those here with their inferiority complexes.

superiority

[DodgyAgent]

superiority

If it were that we would hear patronising comments rather than football supporter style bigotry.

[Solidec]

I don't understand anyone issue with private education and colleges like Eton.

End of the day, if you are in reality, you know that Money makes things better (crude generalisation but its true)

More money buys nicer food, a bigger house, a better education, better career prospects which all feed back into mroe money.

You can moan about it all you want but that is the way the world works and it will NOT change.

The basic idea that there is a greater price to pay for something better is generally accepted.

If you want a fancy car, you need to work harder to get it, etc etc.

I was state schooled and whilst I was very satisfied with my education, I know that private education would have bumped my A and B grades to A* and A and probably got me into Oxbridge if I wanted.

I am not resentful, but I am pragmatic about the whole thing.

And I aspire to put my children through ideally a good grammar school (not many left) or else private schooling.

[Mich the Tester]

I was state schooled and whilst I was very satisfied with my education, I know that private education would have bumped my A and B grades to A* and A and probably got me into Oxbridge if I wanted.

I went to private school and I don’t believe that’s true. Private schools have a very effective marketing and lobbying machine and are very good at bumping up the averages of grades. They do this in two ways; firstly, select the brainiest kids at 13 using the common entrance exam, which was in my experience almost GCSE standard and says more about the quality of a select group of prep schools (which also select pupils with interviews). Secondly, make a selection at 16 of who’s going to be allowed to do A levels and who’s going to be ‘advised’ to find a place at a local sixth form college.

Another factor is that pupils at private schools are often pushed to study the subjects that their teachers believe they’ll get a high grade in, and not necessarily the subjects they enjoy and which will lead to a fulfilling working life. I left because I felt they were trying to turn me into someone I didn't want to be, just so that they could advertise my A grades in something I didn't find interesting.


Private schools need pupils to get into Oxbridge because that sells places to parents, even if the kids themselves would rather do something else with their lives. They can’t advertise about kids who’ve become motorcycle mechanics and are happy, ergo if your child happens to want to be a mechanic and that’s what will make him happy, the chances of him achieving his dreams via private school are reduced.

I’m amazed that this is still an issue in Britain. Every day I deal with happy, successful, well educated people who went to state schools in continental Europe, didn’t wear school uniform and didn’t go ‘boarding’. To be fair I’ve met enough happy, successful, well educated people who went to British state schools too, but there seems to be a crazy idea in Britain that to get a decent education for your kids you have to pay umpty thousand quid a year to send them to some backward institution in the middle of nowhere.

Find a grammar school or a C of E or catholic school, which are often just as good and don't let yourself get ripped off by the private school industry.

[Mich the Tester]

Perhaps if the state schools were run more like Eton then maybe we would have a better education system.

Perhaps if British education was run like the education system of a developed country people wouldn't have to waste their money on rip offs like Eton.