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Journalist praises independent schools

Posted on 21st May 2008

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A British journalist has praised the UK's independent schools.

Simon Heffer also spoke out in the Telegraph against the "shameful silence" of the Conservative party on the subject of private education.

Mr Heffer, who was educated at Chelmsford's King Edward VI Grammar School, the Corpus Christi College and later at Cambridge, said that schools like Eton should be held as an example for the secondary education sector to emulate.

He added that the stereotype of wealthy parents sending their children to independent schools was "rubbish" and that he knew people willing to remortgage their houses and get part-time jobs to ensure their children received the best education available.

Mr Heffer said that the Conservative's education spokesperson Michael Grove should "take note" of the fact that these parents are saving the country £3.5 billion a year by paying school fees.

"[Most parents send their children to independent schools] because the education their children receive there is infinitely better than the average doled out in a state school," he commented.

The Conservative think-tank Policy Exchange has proposed letting parents set up schools that provide extra funding for less-advantaged pupils.
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