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State school fees call for parents earning over £80,000 State school fees call for parents earning over £80,000
(about 2 hours later)
Parents who earn a combined income of more than £80,000 should have to pay if their children go to the most popular state schools, a report suggests.Parents who earn a combined income of more than £80,000 should have to pay if their children go to the most popular state schools, a report suggests.
Dr Anthony Seldon, headmaster at the private Wellington College, raises the idea in a report for cross-party think tank the Social Market Foundation, Private headmaster Dr Anthony Seldon raises the idea for cross-party think tank the Social Market Foundation.
He said it would break "the middle-class stranglehold on top state schools" and provide additional funds.He said it would break "the middle-class stranglehold on top state schools" and provide additional funds.
Poorer pupils should fill a quarter of private school places, he adds. Education Secretary Michael Gove said the Tories were not adopting the policy.
Education is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Spokeswomen for the Scottish government and the Welsh government said there were no plans to look at introducing any policies under which parents would pay for their children to attend schools.
'Unfair farce''Unfair farce'
Dr Seldon argues a "new wave" of radical education reform is needed to end the educational divide between state and independent schools and boost social mobility. In the report, Dr Seldon, who is head of the private school Wellington College, argues a "new wave" of radical education reform is needed to end the educational divide between state and independent schools and boost social mobility.
"We have to end this unfair farce whereby middle-class parents dominate the best schools, when they could afford to pay and even boast of their moral superiority in using the state system when all they are doing is squeezing the poor from the best schools," Dr Seldon said in the report. Families earning more than £200,000 per year should pay the full price of their children's education at popular state schools, the report - titled Schools United: Ending the Divide Between Independent and State - said.
Revisiting proposals he first raised in 2001, Dr Seddon said: "The more parents earn, the more they should pay". Dr Seldon said parents who were the top earners would pay the fee the state pays, which would be about £6,000.
Families earning more than £200,000 per year should pay the full price of their children's education at popular state schools, the report, called Schools United: Ending the divide between independent and state, said
Fees at the most oversubscribed state schools could be the same for the most affluent as those at independent day schools, about £15,000 a year for some primary schools, and £20,000 at secondary schools.Fees at the most oversubscribed state schools could be the same for the most affluent as those at independent day schools, about £15,000 a year for some primary schools, and £20,000 at secondary schools.
Dr Seldon said the move would help to close the "unfair" gap between the academic achievements and career prospects of the richest and poorest children by using the money raised to pay for more teachers and smaller classes.
He said a quarter of the money raised through charging should be retained by the school, with the rest redistributed among other state schools.He said a quarter of the money raised through charging should be retained by the school, with the rest redistributed among other state schools.
The report says "far reaching reforms" in the state education system introduced since 2000 by Labour's Lord Adonis and his coalition successor as education secretary, Michael Gove, have led to improved standards and should be completed The report also urges that:
But it says state schools should also look to emulate features of independent schools such as house systems, boarding, longer school days, uniforms and greater parental involvement. Speaking to BBC News, Dr Seldon said: "There's a tremendously unjust system at the moment whereby the rich and the successful and those with strong elbows buy houses in catchment areas of successful schools; they pay for tutoring, they elbow their way into top schools and this pamphlet is designed to enhance social justice.
Meanwhile, it adds, independent schools should share teaching and other facilities with the state sector. "We need the money in the state schools and this will produce it."
'Great bastion'
The report says "far reaching reforms" in the state education system - introduced since 2000 by Labour's Lord Adonis and continued by his coalition successor Education Secretary Michael Gove - have led to improved standards and should be completed.
The proposal to offer poorer pupils places at independent schools says their fees should be paid by a government grant capped 50% above the cost of sending them to a state school.The proposal to offer poorer pupils places at independent schools says their fees should be paid by a government grant capped 50% above the cost of sending them to a state school.
Dr Seddon ended the report by saying the UK would be "in debt for many years to come" and that state schooling was "the last great bastion holding out against the principle of payment". Dr Seddon added the UK would be "in debt for many years to come" and that state schooling was "the last great bastion holding out against the principle of payment".
The Sunday Times reports that Dr Seldon has discussed the plans with politicians from both main parties.
Social Market Foundation director Emran Mian said: "Anthony Seldon is trying to use excellence wherever he can find it in the schools system to give opportunities to the most disadvantaged."
"His agnosticism - who cares if the school is state or independent, so long as it's accessible to the most talented, not the richest - will make some on the political right, as well as the left, uncomfortable."
A spokesman for Education Secretary Michael Gove said the proposal to charge parents for state education would not be adopted as party policy by the Conservatives.
In December, the head of education watchdog Ofsted warned of differences in pupil attainment across the country. Chief inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw said the gap was like "two nations".In December, the head of education watchdog Ofsted warned of differences in pupil attainment across the country. Chief inspector of schools Sir Michael Wilshaw said the gap was like "two nations".
In separate comments, Sir Michael said that grammar schools were "stuffed full" of middle-class children and did not improve social mobility.In separate comments, Sir Michael said that grammar schools were "stuffed full" of middle-class children and did not improve social mobility.
Research, meanwhile, has suggested that about one in three professional parents in England has moved to an area he or she considers to have good schools.Research, meanwhile, has suggested that about one in three professional parents in England has moved to an area he or she considers to have good schools.
Education is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Spokeswomen for the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government said there were no plans to look at introducing any policies under which parents would pay for their children to attend schools.