Tories told 'stop toadying up' to posh schools as public-state gap widens

19 August 2023 , 21:30

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Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (Image: PA)

Labour has told the Tories to “stop toadying up” to fee-paying schools after the A-level results gap between private and state schools widened.

The party’s analysis of this year’s A-level data found pupils in private schools were more than twice as likely as those in comprehensives, sixth form colleges and academies to get A or A* grades. And they were three times as likely as those in Further Education colleges to get the top exam marks.

Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called on the Education Secretary to adopt Labour ’s plan to raise standards by getting thousands more teachers into kids’ classrooms, paid for by ending tax breaks for private schools. She said: “It should come as no surprise that the gaps between private and state school pupils have widened, given that the Education Secretary is more interested in protecting tax breaks for private schools than raising standards in state schools.

“Instead of toadying up to private schools, she needs to start delivering better life chances and opportunities for working class children.”

In July, Ms Keegan was ridiculed for claiming the cost of sending a child to private school was the same as a family summer holiday abroad. She said: “Most of our private schools aren’t like Eton or Harrow – they’re far smaller and they charge a lot less.” Many cost the same as a family holiday abroad and there’s plenty of parents who choose to forego life’s luxuries to give their children these opportunities.”

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The average private school fees are around £16,000 - far outstripping the average cost of a family holiday.

Further analysis of data from the National Tutoring Programme showed that just one in four secondary school age children eligible for free school meals received catch-up classes this school year, despite Rishi Sunak claiming to have “maxed out” on post-covid tutoring.

In addition to recruiting more teachers, Labour said its plan would introduce a requirement to hold or be working towards Qualified Teacher Status for all new teachers and offer bonus payments to new recruits completing early career training.

Ms Phillipson added: “The best way she can do that is by adopting Labour’s plan to recruit thousands more teachers, paid for by ending tax breaks for private schools. Labour will drive high and rising standards in state schools to ensure that background is no barrier to children getting on in life.”

Mikey Smith