Sir, – The subject of the State capitation grant to fee-paying schools has yet again raised its ugly head. Louise Holden reminds us (Home News, March 5th) that “The State pays teacher salaries in both sets of schools. Much of the discretionary spend earned by fee-paying schools from fees is now spent on recruiting teachers privately to reduce pupil-teacher ratios”.
In other words, parents are paying for this “discretionary spend” to give their children the best possible chance of a good education. In the vast majority of cases it is a struggle for parents to send their children to these schools and any withdrawal of funding will mean a huge influx of pupils into the State system because of the resulting increase in fees. This will put huge pressure on non fee-paying schools, which will require substantial increases in state funding negating any saving made.
It will also result in the closure of many excellent fee-paying schools that are already in financial difficulty due to falling numbers because of the current economic climate.
The result of all this might satisfy the begrudgers and meet the philosophical whims of the Labour Party, but will do untold damage to the educational structure and reputation of this country. Every school will suffer and every pupil will be disadvantaged by such a measure.
This is not an economic argument because no money will be saved – it is a philosophical and damaging argument rooted in begrudery and false doctrine. – Yours, etc,