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David Cameron considering sending his son to £18,000-a-year private school... six years after describing fees as 'crazy'

Prime Minister and his wife reportedly considering sending their son, Elwen, to Colet Court in West London

Caroline Mortimer
Sunday 31 January 2016 10:49 GMT
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David and Samantha Cameron are reportedly considering a range of options for their son
David and Samantha Cameron are reportedly considering a range of options for their son (Getty Images)

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David Cameron is reportedly considering sending his son to an £18,000-a-year private school - despite previously calling fees at such institutions “crazy”.

The Prime Minister and his wife, Samantha, are said to be discussing whether to send their nine-year-old son, Elwen, to Colet Court Preparatory School - part of the exclusive St Paul’s School in Barnes, south-west London.

The Mail on Sunday reports the couple has not made a final decision about where to send their son and are considering both public and state options.

In 2009, Mr Cameron said it would be “crazy” to send his children to fee-paying schools when there should be good state places available.

He said: “I’d like my children to go to state school. It’s crazy that we should have to pay lots of money for private schools. We all pay our taxes. You should have really good state schools available for all.”

It comes after they sent their daughter, Nancy, to the state-funded secondary school Grey Coat Hospital in Westminster in September last year - making Mr Cameron the first serving Conservative Prime Minister in history to send his child to a state run school.

The Mail has speculated the reason for the couple’s decision regarding their son’s future could be connected to Mr Cameron’s announcement that he plans to step down before the general election in 2020.

Elwen would be due to go to the senior public school in September 2019 - meaning there will be less public scrutiny of his private life.

Colet Court is seen as a “feeder school” for St Paul’s - which was attended by the Chancellor George Osborne - which charged £22,500-a-year for day pupils and £34,000 for boarders.

No 10 has not commented on the report, saying the education of Mr Cameron's children was a private matter.

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