Left-wing snobbery does state schools no favours. Matthew Norman is disingenous in criticising state schools and sending his children to private school.
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I have a letter in today’s Daily Telegraph defending my old school from the left-wing snobbery of Matthew Norman, writing in Saturday’s paper.
The letter is as follows:
SIR – Matthew Norman (Comment, May 12) is right to lambast educational elitism in Britain. But his views of Britain’s comprehensives owe more to his own prejudice than any sense of reality.
I went to Pimlico School – which Mr Norman credits only with teacher murders and a one-way path to crack dealing – in the Nineties. It was not the easiest school for a middle-class child with professional parents but, like many other children from a similar background in comprehensives around the country, I thrived in the mixed-ability environment.
The comprehensive experience means that brighter pupils have to learn respect for those of different ability, something sadly lacking from many in the private sector.
The school was academically sound and sent two or three pupils to Oxbridge every year, and many others to good universities. For those less inclined towards the academic route, it had serious musical pedigree with Roots Manuva, Asher D and La Roux all alumni.
The secret was an active parent-teacher association and a governing body that took an interest. My father, despite being a shadow cabinet and cabinet member during that time, chaired the board.
In revealing his own choice to send his son to private school, Mr Norman shows that he is part of the problem. If he really cared about Britain’s education system, he should have sent his son to a local comprehensive and invested his own time and energy into helping it improve.
What really annoyed me was this line from Norman:
“Today, living in a rough west London suburb, we send our son to an excellent private school for no more compelling reason than – though a noble and lucrative profession – crack-dealing seems a career ill-suited to his nature.”
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I have nothing against those who want the best for their children. We should aspire to raise standards in all our schools but that process involves parents getting involved in the governance of their local schools.
Dressing up a decision to send your kids to private school by pretending that the state sector does not offer a choice, especially when claiming to be on the left, is incredibly disingenuous. As it happens there are 23 outstanding secondary state schools in London including at least seven in west London.
49 Responses to “Left-wing snobbery does state schools no favours”
The Pimpernel
Will,
This is a point of view but does not look at all situations .. For many Black & Asian kids they end up going to a school such as Rokeby school mentioned in the Ofsted report they get 10 + GCSE go to a further education college and then a non-russell group higher institution.( I believe the children are not pushed enough (and further it does not have a 6th form) Having been to Rokeby on visits I WOULD not call it a top academic, artistic or sporting achieving school but improving. These kids do not get an insight into the different occupations on offer you do in many private schools. My sister went to an excellent state school in East London for 6th form after attending a poor private school. Yet this school was surrounded by Independent and Grammer. Its results were excellent at both GCSE & A Level, with half dozen Oxbridge intake each year. However it is a faith school. I went to an appalling comprehensive school with teachers (and Yep a number of these clowns are still in Senior positions in Educational authorities)who judged me by my colour as opposed to my ability. Assumed that Black met trouble (I never WAS in trouble) and as opposed to my previous private educational institution DID not provide any inspiration ..In general you get what you pay for .For me a good private with diversity is better than a comprehensive…Having worked at many institutions including the media You still do not get a FAIR representation particuarly in London
Molly
Left-wing snobbery does state schools no favours argues @wdjstraw in response to Matthew Norman: http://t.co/H8pNcgA6
BevR
RT @leftfootfwd: Left-wing snobbery does state schools no favours http://t.co/hbF2sdBG
andycottrill
Great article from @wdjstraw on the 'left wing snobbery' view of state schools: http://t.co/ck3m9GXF
jackstarbright
@Mr_Chas @nicolelondonuk – all a school needs is a Labour MP as Governor to sort things out [apparently] http://t.co/6J9kxasu” 😉