Try this, why don't you....

[sheenaghpugh]

Michael Gove's statement that he wanted people to go into a school and not be able to tell if it was a state or private school led me to recall the days, not so long ago, when, as a writer with a book on an AS-Level syllabus, I went into many schools, both private and public, to give talks and readings. I, of course, knew in advance which kind of school I was visiting (and fixed my fee accordingly). How would I have known otherwise? Dead easy.

Not, I may say, from the pupils. Sixth-formers are curious, bright and stimulating whichever school you are in. They are also well-behaved, since by that time they are volunteers rather than conscripts. I can honestly say I found no difference between students in the two sectors. As for the staff, they tend to look more harassed in the state sector, for reasons that will become clear, but in both sectors I found them, in the main, dedicated to their pupils.

The giveaway, as soon as you stepped through the door, was the state of the buildings and furnishings. In the private sector there are freshly painted walls, carpets on the floors, edible food in the canteens and plenty of books in the libraries. In most of the state schools I went into, repainting was long overdue, buildings were shabby and sometimes leaking, every expense had been spared in the canteen and the libraries were poorly provided with books. This naturally produced a dispiriting atmosphere for the staff and encouraged the pupils to think education could not be a high priority, or it would surely take place in more civilised surroundings.

In other words, Gove, if you want it to be impossible to tell state schools from private, throw some money at them. Quite a lot of money. Because, despite that silly mantra so beloved of the rich and mean, "you can't solve a problem by throwing money at it", there are in fact many problems you can solve exactly that way, and some that can only be solved that way, and this is one of them. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to charge private schools two or three times what I asked from state schools.

Comments

Gove's myopia

[http://marcusmoore.wordpress.com/about/ (from livejournal.com)]

Well said, Sheenagh!

My experiences over the last 40 years have been very similar. I recall working at a boarding school where 600 scholars lived on a 300-acre site - and, incidentally, where some of the workshop participants were extremely aggressive and rude to visitors.

I recall also a couple of days at Eton College, where very loud aeroplanes pass overhead every two minutes: hardly an aid to learning.

I have strong memories too of those countless comprehensives and primary schools where the youngsters were keen to learn, full of good humour, willing to take a few risks, and came up with fabulous ideas and great pieces of writing... despite the lack of resources or crowded working space.

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

The private school I attended was pretty low budget -- lots of ancient prefabs, terrible sports facilities, appalling food, not a carpet in sight. The library wasn't bad though, and the teachers were predominantly excellent.

[robin houghton (from livejournal.com)]

Interesting ... perhaps he should be encouraging state schools to start wooing ex-pupils (those with good memories of the place) as a way of raising money. There's a strong philosophy of philanthropy towards one's 'alma mater' in the independent sector which is entirely missing in the state sector. Whether or not you feel successful ex-pupils should be tapped up for donations is right, it is nonetheless an important source of income for independent schools. It also helps when your school has 'charitable status' - another difference between independent and state, I believe. Thanks for the post. Robin Houghton

[sheenaghpugh]

I'm not sure how much good it'll do, on the basis that my old university, Bristol, has been badgering me to send them money for the last 40-odd years, and I never have...