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Charity calls for state to pay fees at private schools | Charity calls for state to pay fees at private schools |
(about 17 hours later) | |
By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News | By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News |
The state should help fund places for bright children from poor backgrounds at the best private schools, an education charity has said. | The state should help fund places for bright children from poor backgrounds at the best private schools, an education charity has said. |
Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, said leading independent schools should be fully open to pupils whose parents cannot afford the fees. | Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, said leading independent schools should be fully open to pupils whose parents cannot afford the fees. |
He advocated a revival of a grant scheme to subsidise fees at day schools which was abolished in the 1970s. | He advocated a revival of a grant scheme to subsidise fees at day schools which was abolished in the 1970s. |
But a government spokesman said its priority was to improve state schools. | But a government spokesman said its priority was to improve state schools. |
Sir Peter said that more than two-thirds of places at independent day schools were essentially state funded until 1976 when the direct grant scheme was abolished. | Sir Peter said that more than two-thirds of places at independent day schools were essentially state funded until 1976 when the direct grant scheme was abolished. |
He told BBC radio: "Now the only people who can go to these schools are people who can afford fees, which can be £12,000 a year for a day school. | He told BBC radio: "Now the only people who can go to these schools are people who can afford fees, which can be £12,000 a year for a day school. |
"So what we are saying is that all the places are available based on merit." | "So what we are saying is that all the places are available based on merit." |
Sir Peter said a study by his charity showed that the majority of people in top jobs in the media, politics, the law and medicine had attended independent day schools. | Sir Peter said a study by his charity showed that the majority of people in top jobs in the media, politics, the law and medicine had attended independent day schools. |
The report said the current system wasted talent, was unfair and economically damaging to the nation. | The report said the current system wasted talent, was unfair and economically damaging to the nation. |
Sir Peter said the Sutton Trust had funded a seven-year pilot scheme at an independent girls school in Liverpool. | Sir Peter said the Sutton Trust had funded a seven-year pilot scheme at an independent girls school in Liverpool. |
'A happy school' | 'A happy school' |
During the period, Belvedere School took the brightest pupils, with free places for the third of pupils with a family income of less than £15,000. | |
The other parents paid fees on a sliding scale, depending on their means. | The other parents paid fees on a sliding scale, depending on their means. |
Sir Peter said: "Academic standards at the school went up and it was a happy school. No-one really cared whether your father was a barrister or a bar tender." | Sir Peter said: "Academic standards at the school went up and it was a happy school. No-one really cared whether your father was a barrister or a bar tender." |
As parents were sharing the fees, the cost to the charity was less than the cost to government of funding a state school place, he said. | As parents were sharing the fees, the cost to the charity was less than the cost to government of funding a state school place, he said. |
He said 16 other top independent day schools were willing to take part in further pilots if the government put up the money to subsidise the fees. | |
"We are talking about some very famous schools: Manchester Grammar, King Edward's School, Birmingham and City of London who say 'We would love to be able to take 100% of our pupils on merit,'" he said. | "We are talking about some very famous schools: Manchester Grammar, King Edward's School, Birmingham and City of London who say 'We would love to be able to take 100% of our pupils on merit,'" he said. |
A spokesman for the Department for Education welcomed Sir Peter's contribution to the debate on better educational opportunities but said this was not an idea the government was considering. | A spokesman for the Department for Education welcomed Sir Peter's contribution to the debate on better educational opportunities but said this was not an idea the government was considering. |
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