tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618066295420401291.post6428245370658729824..comments2024-02-12T11:02:41.752+00:00Comments on An Independent Head: The economics of education: "Independent" versus "Private"Mark S. Steedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553896714267081021noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618066295420401291.post-26355766106415785142009-01-14T22:14:00.000+00:002009-01-14T22:14:00.000+00:00I wonder if it is fair to say that school improvem...I wonder if it is fair to say that school improvements were driven by parent demand? If a school offers a broad curriculum, has excellent pastoral care, strong extra-curricular provision and so on, has it truly been the case that in order to maintain its standing vast sums must be spent on shiny new buildings? I suppose what I'm trying to articulate is the thought that if a school such as Berkhamsted has a tradition going back hundreds of years then why has this 'arms race' been necessary at all? I think it's fair to say that most people who think about sending their children to the school know what they will be getting; the rounded education that you describe in your post. <BR/><BR/>Of course, neither you nor I were in post when the various 'new' buildings were constructed at school, so we were not privy to the decisions and rationale adopted by the Governors and then Principal. Presumably, there would have been extensive discussion about the pros and cons. I find it hard to believe that parent power was the main driver for change and improvement. However, I should confess my own ignorance by saying that although I am a former pupil of the school, my previous teaching experience, prior to starting at Berkhamsted in 2007, was in the State sector, where funding is a very different affair.<BR/><BR/> On the one hand there is no doubt that the new Chadwick centre provides an outstanding environment in which the teaching of Art and Photography can be taken to new heights. On the other hand, I don't suppose I would have swum any faster as a boy whether I was in the marvelous pool at the Knox-Johnston centre, or the original Victorian pool at the Castle campus; but I would have benefited from better gym and indoor sports facilities. And that makes me think that the rationale was improved learning opportunities, rather than a case of keeping up with other schools.<BR/><BR/>Lastly, to pick up on the other thread in your post, do you think the Government et al should re-introduce the assisted places scheme? How would you see this tying in with the announcement yesterday that the Government has re-prioritized social mobility, and is offering £10,000 golden hellos to teachers who offer three years in the toughest schools?Sacha van Stratenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01041060468903643437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-618066295420401291.post-70242378762139548912009-01-14T20:56:00.000+00:002009-01-14T20:56:00.000+00:00It crossed my mind that Private schools will be ve...It crossed my mind that Private schools will be very 'picky' about their choice of location - presumably in areas where state education is pretty dismal so as to gain from the many dissatisfied parents, and yet not able to afford traditional public/independent school fees.<BR/><BR/>If true, then Berkhamsted should be relatively safe from this newer form of competition. But the 'border-line' parents (those that are wavering between state and independent - presumably a larger number than usual this year) work the system to get their offspring into their preferred state school. For many this will currently be a grammar school in Bucks. A boom time perhaps for private tutors at 11+ stage? And a difficult time ahead, presumably, for the maintained sector - all those extra students to educate!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18037148595653049212noreply@blogger.com