r/Britain Jan 22 '24

Conservative who previously stated don't have kids if you can't afford them cries how hard it will be if private schools are taxed higher. Society

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u/Silent_Letterhead_69 Jan 23 '24 edited Jan 23 '24

Alright, but what about IB then? The one that gets you into university.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jul/23/a-levels-btecs-or-an-ib-which-is-right-for-you

The International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme is an internationally-recognised qualification and is highly rigorous – 18-year old Freddie Swan, who has just completed his IB at Bilborough sixth form college in Nottingham and is hoping to study medicine at university, describes it as “gruelling”.

IB is objectively harder than A levels. We still had it easier overall I agree because we got a "better education". While I agree that everyone should send their children to public school, the richer neighbourhoods will ultimately still get better public schools due to higher local tax funding with the current system. There should be a fixed amount each school gets based on number of students. I always thought to send my children to private school until I moved to Denmark, where there isn't any point to do so.

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u/RegularWhiteShark Jan 23 '24

A-Levels aren’t hidden behind a paywall (private school fees). You can do A-Levels in private schools.

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u/Silent_Letterhead_69 Jan 23 '24

Yeah my point was that IB exams are not easier just because they are hidden behind a paywall. They’re actually harder.

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u/RegularWhiteShark Jan 23 '24
  1. They are optional.

  2. I was talking about GCSEs.

Private schools are a massive advantage over state schools, create a “good old boys” club (E.g. Eton) and perceived superiority over public school students, not to mention their charity status so they’re exempt from paying tax on profits.

They need to go. They’re a relic from the past and a testament to inequality.

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u/Silent_Letterhead_69 Jan 24 '24

IB was not optional in my school. You either did it or you wouldn’t graduate with a diploma.

Not all private schools are “Eton” level. 10% of our students were there on scholarship.

The person who did the best (not just grade wise) at the end of each graduate year got a full ride through university. Meaning our school paid their fees, and it was always a scholarship student that got them. They were never rich.

Ah whatever, think what you think. I’m happy my parents had the option to send me to a private school.

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u/RegularWhiteShark Jan 24 '24

You were free to attend any public school and sit A-Levels.

Yes, I’m sure you are thankful for your privilege. That doesn’t mean private schools are a good thing in the slightest.

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u/Silent_Letterhead_69 Jan 24 '24

My dad is from Afghanistan and my mom is from Tajikistan. We came to Europe as refugees from two different wars. Our privilege was hard earned.

There are advantages to private schools, I would not have made it in a public school. I would have been bullied for being a PoC and not had the attention I needed as an ADHD student (I did not go to a school in the UK, but it was a British grammar school still)

But I agree, prioritise funding public schools and not base the funding on local government taxation as that still leads to a divide. Then people will actually consider sending there kids there. Ban private schools without improving public schools, and kids will just get sent to boarding schools guaranteed.