The education system in UK needs to reviewed based on systems which have proved to be successful in other countries. The disparity in education is causing a lot of confusion in the minds of the parents and even the children. This makes education divisive and unequal, especially for children from under privileged background. This cacophony of schools of different categories is a recipe for disaster. The constant changes to our school system is causing astonishment even to observers abroad.
One cannot agree that the fragmentation of our education system is the right answer. The grammar schools, free schools and academy programme are divisive and unnecessary experiment with the education system which will certainly ensure more losers than winners. The type of schools we have are:
- Grammar schools - also known as selective - are state schools which select their pupils on the basis of academic ability, with pupils sitting an exam (called the 11-plus) in the last year of primary school to determine whether or not they gain a place.
- Maintained schools are schools maintained by local authorities.
- Independent schools are private schools run by private individuals or organisations under contractual arrangements (generally with individual parents)
- Academies are independent schools where the contract is between the proprietor and the Secretary of State. Parents, pupils, staff and individual governors are not parties to the contract.
- Free schools are simply a type of academy – the term “free school” has no separate legal meaning. It is just a label coined and used by the Coalition Government.
- State school is an entirely non-legal term. It is sometimes used to refer to the academies/free schools and maintained schools taken together.
- State-funded school is also an entirely non-legal term. It is sometimes used to refer to the academies/free schools and maintained schools taken together.
- Comprehensive school – the non-legal term used for maintained schools which are not selective (i.e. not grammar schools). Let us have a level playing field for children from all backgrounds and not just the privileged few.
Baldev Sharma
Rayners Lane, Harrow
