Was that really called for on a thread that had been having a decent debate, just stick to the topic, otherwise i close it.
If the debate is about charitable status - Charitable status means that total tax rebates for private schools are approximately £600m. If the 620,000 private school pupils were forced into state schools it would cost approximately £4bn. Not a hard sum. Is the real debate about perpetuating a class divide? Finland did away with fee paying schools and all schools were integrated into a state schools system. Labour has been promising/threatening to do the same since 1964 with its Signposts for the Sixties. I can't see it happening any time soon.
Did it work in Finland? Genuinely asking cos I didn't know this. There's a lot to admire about the Scandinavian education system imho. From my understanding they do learning through play until the age of 7 or 8. They then begin learning at desks. By time they reach 11 they (statistics wise) are said to be further ahead than British kids educationally. It is thought that the confidence they gained through the early play learning means they sre more confident when learning becomes more formal.
Strange decision. Would they have stopped you from signing for a football team for similar reasons? I doubt it. "You can only join Real Madrid if your sister can too, Ern." "But mum!"
And that's fine as a general idea. Treating your children equally does seem fair. You don't stop one from earning something that's unavailable to the others, though. That's a punishment for nothing. Can't pass your driving test? Sorry kids, none of you can get a driving license. Not really something that you can do anything about when you're a kid though, of course. Shame.
Finland has the best education system in the world. Doesn't mean it would work anywhere else though especially as they have a relatively small population of 6m. It would mean a massive overhaul here and you know how politicians have a propensity to muck things up.
I think there’s a misconception that all private schools are like Eton and Harrow. My aunt was headmistress of a small private school in WALES and it was absolutely nothing like Eton or Harrow.