Letter: Choice of schools
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Gerald Kaufman is disingenuous. He claims that he does not advocate the abolition of grammar schools. But he doesn't have a good word to say for them.
He complains that members of the Royal Family have visited independent but not state schools in his Manchester constituency. But on the day that the Prince of Wales most recently visited Manchester Grammar School (in April this year) he also visited a nearby state school, Ducie High in Moss Side, with which MGS has a fruitful partnership.
He says the assisted places scheme "pumped" nearly pounds 2.5m a year of public money into three independent schools in his constituency. But he fails to point out that this is not enough to cover the full costs of educating pupils on assisted places, who are therefore subsidised by parents paying the full fees.
It follows, therefore, that (contrary to his article) public money was not enough to provide the schools' facilities either, which are, of course, used by assisted pupils and fee-payers alike.
DAVID WOODHEAD
National Director, Independent Schools Information Service
London SW1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments