Private Schools: A Public Disaster?

[@emmawilkins5755]

The state secondary schools where I live are all underperforming. I went to one myself and had a terrible experience. It's not just the poor academic results but bad behaviour, gangs and drugs etc. We made the decision to send our child to a private school to avoid all of that. I'm thankful that we are able to have the choice, but I also resent having to pay for a decent education / safe environment and it's unfair on those who have no alternative. The UK education system is really quite poor compared to many around the world. I believe it's mainly a lack of discipline that's to blame.

[@poppynorton4844]

Emma Wilkins I go to one aswell

[@D.Jay.]

@@alexk.3320 that's bullshit. how does that have any significant detetomental impact? If a school is properly funded and administered then diversity will only strengthen adolescent development and broaden both their perspectives and prospectives.

[@lsbett]

You’re right in that many state secondary schools have behavioural issues, I went to one where there was a lot of disruption in class, however my sixth form was also a state school and classes were completely silent. It’s also well known that the local private school in my area (worldwide renowned) has an issue with drug dealing and sexual harassment. A bit of hypocrisy there? Sorry to hear you had a bad state school experience, though.

[@lauren9004]

I COMLETELY agree. Poor parenting is so problematic in this situation and is a HUGE factor

[@briansykes2806]

A good education is of course a prerequisite to success. But by far the most important thing in UK is who you know, what friends and connections you have. A brilliant academic without connections might well end up on Universal Credit.

[@zohebalikhan7404]

This.

[@drt8990]

Couldn't agree more with this. Absolutely spot on. This is the real value in independent education and it should enter public lexicon that it's got naff all to do with intelligence, integrity and potential of an individual, but all to do with connections and (invariably) who your parents knew to send them up the money ladder.

[@gel6224]

my trading desk at Goldman will differ.

[@Frederique41]

Exactly!

[@jakehenderson9845]

British education systems has completely failed, the poll was suggested that nearly 100,000 british young people went to bad schools that left with no academic backgrounds. They are all now unemployed and forgotten by their government, as a 31 year old man I am absolutely disgusted by the UK government on education saying now education is "outstanding".

[@motivation-educate]

It the kids they don’t want to work that it then they wish they work harder at school

[@MBReader410]

Let parents pay fees.

[@DouglasCaiado]

It's such a pity that it is a time-limited programme, it doesn't let people finish their argument.

[@jessicaturner7834]

I agree. Some students require more time and attention. There are students that come from abusive homes and that impacts their ability to learn.

[@thedom6209]

Westminster isn’t a great example as it is one of the most academic schools so the teachers are more specialised - not all private schools have that

[@samuelrogers8358]

Surely, the problem is not the independent schools performing well, giving kids a good education, and therefore giving them a chance to succeed in life. It is the government not resourcing the state schools enough, and therefore giving them a poor education.

[@samuelrogers8358]

It is absolutely foolish to punish the high achieving schools, the independent ones. The scandal here is the very low standard of the state schools.

[@MBReader410]

Allow state schools to charge modest fees. Problem solved.

[@richardventus1875]

Unexpectedly, reading this article brought tears to my eyes. I left the Royal Navy in 2009 after nearly 30 years of service and had been at one time or other its principal advisor for all learning (individual, team and whole ship education and training), leadership and management. My last 6 years were in NATO as part of its battlestaff. After retiring, I wanted to ‘give back’ to our young people and spent 13 years teaching the most critical subjects in the Engineering, Aerospace and Automotive disciplines up to second year degree level. However, I found the leadership was self-satisfied and complacent to the obvious failings of the current education system, particularly in meeting the STEM needs of industry, and was highly resistant to any significant changes. Last year I was told that Exeter College was due an OFSTED inspection so I had to resign as I knew my integrity would compel me to tell the supposed educational leadership of this country, and ,OFSTED, exactly what I thought of their leadership, knowing that the college would be downgraded by a single word - ‘Inadequate’ - if I did so. Since then, of course, there have been tragic consequences around this issue, and I doubt whether I will ever be asked back into the system to teach again.

[@rbarber]

I think when the woman talked about the high number of SEN you need to take in consideration that private schools have the money and resources to test everybody for SEN while in state schools only the more extreme cases are diagnosed.

[@theduke6174]

Well people pay a lot so their children have an advantage....that's the point

[@maxroberts7393]

What is the UK's way out? How about bringing back public grammar schools which bland, middle-brow smiler, Tony Blair, turned into comprehensive schools? Here in the US, our public (tax-supported) schools are mostly public disasters. Students can finish 12th year unable to read and write. Those who can read and write often do both very badly. The US's best public schools are in areas where parents, knowledgeable of education's value, can watch the administrators and teachers to keep them performing. Such areas are many of the wealthier towns or towns where a state university is. State universities' faculties' children attend the local public schools. The universities' faculties are also active in the parents' associations (called Parent-Teacher Associations), where they keep an eye on the schools and do not let matters drift. US public schools are dominated by education unions, whose focus is mainly on teaching as a job for their members. The focus is on so many hours spent in a classroom at so many dollars per hour. In other words, cash for being there. Anything is extra. Some union teachers are conscientious, but that is no requirement, except where the Parent-Teacher Association is dogged.

[@geraldbutler5484]

That’s why so many people will vote for a thing like Trump. He actually said he loves the uneducated.

[@LeafInTheWind88]

But the funny thing is these “public” schools started out as charity schools for poor boys lol😂

[@tada3922]

If you add 7% of jam to 93% of crap, you will get 100% of crap

[@briansykes2806]

I absolutely agree. But if we can add 93% of crap to 7% of jam....

[@tada3922]

@@briansykes2806 Crap will win no matter how you add.. It's much easier to destroy than to build

[@thebritace9351]

Just make sure ur the jam

[@frnk8650]

bit classist to say anyone who can’t afford private school is crap, don’t you think?

[@zhiweiqin5849]

@@frnk8650 am i crap???

[@LondonLadsArt]

Harold Wilson was post WWII but pre Thatcher. Since Thatcher we have slowly drifted back to Victorian times which is precisely what the Tories and the vast majority of the middle class want, so please stop the the obtuse responses, you all know what is going on.

[@mikemanners1069]

Bloody elites.....one day we will take over.

[@fyroblox5059]

am i the only one who goes to private school but it is resourcefully worse than public schools? im not rich either, the reason my school is private is because they don't want to teach certain things that the government does and it wants it to be a religious school and not co-ed

[@minah.]

You get what you pay for. I hope private schools never get abolished.

[@xxyes8879]

you mean you get what you can afford

[@neptunianman]

*What your parents can afford

[@Sarawarawara-]

@@xxyes8879 That’s the same with everything...

[@josephbrennan370]

Well don't claim the country is a meritocracy then. Don't ask people to work harder to climb the ladder and finally don't keep saying that private school kids are smarter!

[@MBReader410]

The state system could be massively improved by allowing state schools to charge modest fees.

[@darleyt1]

Wow, is it fair...no. Is it logical yes.

[@jessicaturner7834]

I agree with the point about there not being enough motivation to improve schools. I don’t believe that this issue is limited to just the UK. This is also the case in the US. Income inequality plays a huge role on the success of the population and also the difficulties of lower class students face such as hunger and possible violence at home. I think if all schools were managed as boarding schools across the board and society invested in its population, then perhaps we would all be more successful.

[@itoo3654]

Let's be real ,it's very much less so in the United. One can be poor and go to a top-tier school.

[@edwardfitzgerald3877]

From personal experience, I can say that private schools don't always provide a better education. However, they perform better than public schools in testing because private schools get to choose their students. And most of the students they choose have these traits in common: 1) Come from affluent backgrounds (don't live in areas where gangs recruit kids after school; also don't go to school hungry). 2) Average or higher than average IQ. 3) Pressured by parents to do well and "become someone". 4) Are eager to compete with their peers to impress their friends and families. 5) Have been instilled the love of learning from a young age. 6) Have more highly educated parents. 7) Have parents who are involved in their learning or in efforts to expand their intellectual horizon by exposing them to rich cultural experiences. The list goes on. (TL; DR: Private schools do better because they only accept bright kids who are already eager to learn).

[@TheVigilantEye77]

Why blame good schools for the bad ?

[@mike02439]

Let state schools learn from private schools

[@MBReader410]

The main thing they can learn is to charge fees. State funding per pupil will never be enough. The core problem holding back education in the UK is the lie that something magical can be done to improve schools without people paying.

[@moodobusiness]

The chairman of the Sutton trust old Peter, went to a boys only grammar school. If Labour ideology hadn’t been to destroy all the grammar schools we may have some better educated public sec children

[@bobrobertson394]

The question never asked about the 7% of pupils that are privately educated is that what band academically were those children at. Yes those 7% get the top jobs but they are also a large chunk of the top 20% of smartest individuals in the country. There is still a disparity but if you sent an average selection of the nations children to the top schools a huge number of them would still fail because there is so much more to achievement than what school you went to (natural intelligence, how interested parents are in their children education, etc). The private schools are creaming the crop of the population and you’d expect those children to take the top jobs in the nation irrespective of what school they went to, private schools just dedicate the resources to them to reach their potential

[@Frederique41]

Natural selection doesn’t exist, if children are smart is because they have been exposed to subjects and activities that help them to gain skills and experience to be as such.

[@BedboundME]

There should have been comparison with the private versus state situation in Europe and USA versus U.K. there’s something different about the U.K. both in the lavishness and exclusivity versus the situation in Germany France etc so why hasn’t the British system been adopted elsewhere and what’s the consequences of our system versus there’s? There are issues when groups such as the bbc and the Tory government are so dominated by people from top private schools as it means a very narrow group of privileged people who see the world, inevitably from a certain angle, is influential in not only controlling what happens in the country but also deciding how that is reported or even what is regarded as news.

[@jacquifoley1787]

thought eton and westminster would be classed as public schools

[@LeafInTheWind88]

They are

[@Whatisevengoingon]

wut? they are definitely private schools, I like in the UK

[@abshaar13]

@@Whatisevengoingon there's nothing like "private school" UK, it's either public schools or state schools. I'm getting thoroughly confused by this video

[@Whatisevengoingon]

@@abshaar13 isn't it private and public/comprehensive - where private one must pay/take an exam if it is grammar, and public which is for everyone (in simple terms)?

[@abshaar13]

@@Whatisevengoingon oh.. thanks for sharing this

[@bridgetdoman1386]

I went to a very good primary school in the 50s/early 60s followed by comprehensive school, the first in Sheffield opening 1960. Being comprehensive, the classes were streamed into the equivalent of grammar, technical and secondary, then the subjects were streamed into sets. I was in the grammar stream, in the top sets for French and Maths. Nevertheless, I left at 16 after taking O levels. Fast forward to the 1990s and my two children. I taught them to read and write etc based on methods my own teachers in primary school had used such as phoncs, focusing on grammar, spelling and punctuation; I also taught them long multiplication for example before it was covered in school. In time, after experiencing several problems and my youngest in particular being out of education for a little while, he started at one secondary school aged around 13. Near enough coming out on top in an arithmetic test (I couldn't call it Maths), better than most of the rest of the class; rather than the teachers looking at why he did so well and inwardly at their own methods, all they could do was to accuse him of cheating.

[@tofty21]

If the Private school system were abolished how long would it be before state schools were properly funded?

[@simonhool3073]

Never because a parent is also paying for a state funded place while paying for an independent place.

[@MBReader410]

There is a ready solution to improving funding of state schools. Let them charge fees.

[@garyjohnstone6422]

The U.S. has nearly tripled the amount spent per government school pupil in inflation‐adjusted dollars in the last 40 years while test scores have remained flat and internationally unimpressive. A recurrent problem reported by the students, especially by the public undergraduate, is the disconnect between what is taught and the practical reality of the job market. • NOTE: The most famous, very top undergraduate programs are indeed private. For example: the entire Ivy League (which includes Harvard, Yale, Princeton), MIT, CalTech, Stanford. Of the public schools, only Berkeley regularly appears in the top 10. Public undergraduates consider many professors lazy, self-centred, and selfish as they are very rarely fired. You pay for your children to be educated so why should you be paying for teachers time to research? For Profit Private Uni`s must perform or go broke which is just as it should be. You measure results by the overall profitability of a private uni`. Also, because public uni`s are infested with communists/socialists the brainwashing is atrocious. Everything you despise will be shoved down their otherwise naive throats as gospel truth.

[@ncharles260]

That 7% has an outsized say in every aspect of life. That small number is meaningless if we are discussing policy. Thats the reason it wont happen, this is as much about power and access as it is about education. That's a part of this no one wants to discuss. Its the reason why all political regardless of their political leanings, mostly, send their children to the same schools. They want the access and to make sure the kids have access to that mythical escalator.

[@josephstalin188]

Check out the Pareto Principle

[@MBReader410]

I mean gravity exists, the sun rises every day, people want the best for their children.

[@lexter8379]

This topic needs more then 20 minutes. Just listing and explaining all the ways private education is terrible would take me twenty minutes. From the social problem to methodological problems in comparing those two. The effects on society, democracy, truth, propaganda, inequality but also on the students and parents. I am yet to hear an argument for private education that is not just the liberterian misunderstanding of freedom or argument for secondary things (such as better learning methods, or environment)

[@AngxlicSunsetYT]

This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. I go to private school not for the education, but for the religion. Most of the kids who go to my school have parents who are pastors etc. I go there for a better education on what we believe in, not a better one in general. Also, it won’t help to abolish them because the funding will stay the same. Everyone pays tax, and believe it or not, life isn’t fair.

[@annedennison5102]

Private Education is the best in this country

[@TheMiniMaestroMan]

Yeah, and it creates inequality. Have you seen the state of some of the slums in London and Manchester? Hull and Blackpool? Absolute filth, they've had their chances taken from them. We are an equal nation, kids don't get to choose how much their family makes and it's causing them to be unfairly lagged behind in education compared to their richer peers. State schools have less funding and cannot keep up with the demand whereas private schools have as much funding as they need. If you attended a state school, I garauntee you would have lower grades than you wouild going to a private school. It creates divide and poverty. Private education needs to go.

[@simonhool3073]

@@TheMiniMaestroMan You have no idea.

[@josephbrennan370]

@@simonhool3073 and you do?

[@simonhool3073]

@@josephbrennan370 I have taught in both the state and independent schools, big name schools and ‘normal name’ schools. I attended both types of schools as a pupil and spend a lot of my time researching education policy so have a fair amount of knowledge on the subject.

[@MBReader410]

State schools should be allowed to charge modest fees, means tested.

[@muskduh]

Education is the problem. People need hard skills not useless knowledge they will never grasp or apply. People need jobs, money, a house, and a car, not useless degrees.

[@akash_goel]

Public schools have no incentive to improve or to help the kids. What else would one expect from them?

[@Zikra-ek1sw]

The only reason we attend private school is because of our talent (not to brag). The schools specifically choose us, because they want to help those who have the potential to do good in life. The people who don't get into one, too bad. We have to do tests to attend our schools, and it's very difficult. Plus they work the devil out of us , we only get a few days extra holidays because our school days are longer.

[@imanepink]

Still doesn't make you any less privileged and are you suggesting that state school students don't have the potential to do go in life? Definitely some snobby attitude I see here. Own your privilege, I own mine as well because I go to a good state school.

[@imanepink]

And the bit about it only being based on talent is false, if you have a parent who can afford to you to a private school then you can get in to a private school you don't need to necessarily be academically gifted, if you have money then you can get in (I was prime example of this in primary school).

[@josephbrennan370]

Total snobbery. Almost unbelievable. You are suggesting that gifted kids in state schools don't have the potential to do good in life simply because they don't have money. I thought you were taught to think critically. After all, you are paying thousands a year aren't you? Such arrogance is one of the many reasons that private schools should be abolished.

[@gel6224]

as a ps boy. I propose a 200k minimum. our general system will then flourish.

[@MBReader410]

Schools are better where parents pay. Let state schools charge fees.

[@musafawundu6718]

Improve public schools...

[@coolkatz9012]

Born to rule mentality ain't cheap !

[@robertbarrett2494]

A private school is a term at Eton & Harrow f a prep school . Is it the same in the USA although a public school is a term in Scotland & the USA f a state school

[@hilalpolat5496]

Is it available in Turkish? Where can I find the Turkish version of the video ?

[@realistic.optimist]

As an American who went to public school the world is not fair and never will be. Get over it.

[@itoo3654]

One doesn't have to be so snotty about it! there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of one's privileged background ,and getting the best education one can! the attitude behind it, such as yours, however, is the problem.

[@Frederique41]

Just shush if you have nothing smart to say. They should have taught you this in you private trash /school.

[@realistic.optimist]

@@Frederique41 LOL are you repressed or just stupid? You should take your advice - your lack of knowledge is showing.

[@realistic.optimist]

@@itoo3654 Being honest and factual is being snotty? LOL. You want to make yourself happier - switch to living in the real world and you will not be disappointed as often.

[@realistic.optimist]

@@Frederique41 Meaning you cannot and could not afford to attend.

[@trackmonger]

Hilarious, so it is the private school's fault for being better than the state schools? Why can't you be pushing for the state schools to improve?

[@MBReader410]

Exactly, and in order to improve state schools need to be allowed to charge fees.

[@emilyedmiston2935]

As a teenager who goes to a private (paid for school) i know first hand that most of this stuff is fake. Yes my education is great but my other friends from different schools are very similar to me. Never have i been told i am better than them or that i would even do better than them. My school may be a bit different to theirs but i am Sure we will both do well in life. There is no point ruining something nice that other people have maybe just improve the less fortunate peoples things. I come from a family with a mum from a normal school and a dad from a public school and they both do well!

[@frnk8650]

i know you mean well but this is a very privileged worldview. ‘i am sure we will both do well in life’ is just not true. state educated people on average earn thousands less than privately educated. if the money that went into these high class facilities was redistributed to state schools then people wouldn’t have their futures determined by their birthright privilege.

[@AngxlicSunsetYT]

@@frnk8650 that’s because the parents teach the kids differently during every day life! It doesn’t always have to do with the school. Many people who have large businesses and send their kids to private school will know all of the tips on how to be successful!

[@josephbrennan370]

@@frnk8650 wish I could like this twice.

[@fredwooten14]

Well, explain George Washington Carver, etc. The rich need the poor and the poor need the rich. It's a filtering system with money.

[@imanepink]

I was part of the 7% (in primary school) 😎 not now lol told my mum she ain't paying £15K a year to send me to a private school that has 1200 students lol

[@simonhool3073]

Smaller class sizes still

[@imanepink]

@@simonhool3073 yeah but still overpriced imo

[@simonhool3073]

@@imanepink Not overpriced at all, you compare a state boarding school to a full independent school and you can see the difference.

[@imanepink]

@@simonhool3073 nah £15K a year for education is too much, would rather go to a good state school. I mean it's not my money but still I don't want parent to be spending £15K a year on education before university.

[@simonhool3073]

@@imanepink Higher grades on average, extra support available, more sports, more trips, smaller classes, more pride overall as a collective just to name a few.

[@poppynorton4844]

I go to private school! It is phenomenal and you should come to one. There are so many amazing opportunities!

[@Surfing566]

I am sorry if this sounds a bit rude. You should come to one makes you sound naive and rude private schools have shocking tuition fees that the majority cannot simply afford. Harrow is an independent school has a tuition fee about 30 grand above the UK's average salary.

[@frnk8650]

‘you should come to one’ who’s going to pay for it? you?

[@frnk8650]

lily todd and where are they going to get this money from? its just not realistic for most people

[@rebeccammc1223]

lily todd not everyone can afford it

[@blue_brie]

You sound incredibly ignorant. I also go to private school, but I understand that anyone can just "come to one." It's a privilege that some people just don't have.

[@Chigrikmarak3016]

Public schools : The union disaster.

[@lauren9004]

Interesting

[@gel6224]

there are many crap private schools. approx 30 good public schools exist

[@danielcallum8015]

Uk not a superpower so keep it they do have good things about them

[@imeldamogi]

VVVIP

[@user-fs8tl7ni1w]

This woman is so woke that she had to politically correct “old boys network” with “person.” You can’t take her seriously. Ugh!

[@jess8023]

abolish private and grammar schools

[@simonhool3073]

No

[@josephbrennan370]

Grammar schools I can support but they are more of a necessary evil to drill kids who parents want to make "smart". At least you don't have to pay to get in and it is much more meritocratic.

[@MBReader410]

Abolish free education for free loading middle class parents who can afford to pay.