Your interview with Michael Gove, shadow schools secretary, raised some interesting points. At the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), we welcome the direction the Conservatives appear to be taking in relation to the Swedish-style schools.
We think it is vital that parents be given the choice on how to educate their child. As in the private health sector, if a person cannot find a quality service from the state, they should be allowed to take that money and use it for private services. Research suggests it costs about #163;8,000 a year for the state to educate each child, a figure that would go a long way in the private sector.
The British education system is recognised by many abroad to be one of the finest in the world. So when we already have such high credentials, why reinvent the wheel? Surely it would be better to develop closer synergy between our existing state and private education sectors, without trying to create a system from scratch?
David Hanson, Chief executive, Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.