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'Wealthy parents should pay up to
£20,000 to send their children
to state school' says headmaster of leading private college
Wealthy parents should pay up to £20,000 to send their children to the best state schools, while private schools must reserve a quarter of their places for the poorest, according to a leading headmaster.
Dr Anthony Seldon, master of £11,000-a-term Wellington College in Berkshire, say the plans would help to end the unfair gap in career prospects between the richest and poorest children in the UK.
Seldon argues that parents whose combined income is more than £80,000 should be forced to pay to send their children to over-subscribed state schools, with wealthier couples paying more.
Those who earn more than £200,000-per-year would be forced to pay £20,000 for a secondary school place and £15,000 for primary school, equivalent to private school rates.
Grammar schools along with popular academies and comprehensive schools would also be allowed to charge more as places there are more restricted.
In a report to be published on Wednesday, Seldon, who advises both main political parties, says the proposals will also help to save money and pay for more teachers and smaller classes for children.
In the report, he says: 'We have to end this unfair farce whereby middle-class parents dominate the best schools, when they could afford to pay, and even boast of their moral superiority when all they are doing is squeezing out the poor form the best schools.'
He argues that twice as much money is spent per child on education in private schools, while they also attract the most qualified teachers, hampering the social mobility of those from state schools.
Wealthy parents, he says, are already paying for houses close to in-demand schools and paying for tutors to ensure their children pass entrance exams.
'Instead of estate agents and private tutors getting rich, let's put this money into the state system' he adds.
Another part of his recommendations are for more private schools to sponsor state academies and free schools, despite Wellington Academy – linked with Mr Seldon's school – performing poorly last year.
Seldon says that in an age of austerity every possible avenue to raise public money should be explored, and points out that Universities are already charging for education which was formerly free.
Chris Pleasance
19 January 2014
