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Gap between state, private schools has widened

Posted on 22nd December 2009

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There has been a further widening of the gap in achievement between state and private schools, it has been said.

In response to the suggestion that state schools may introduce a ten-hour day to increase standards, Anthony Seldon believes more teaching time does not necessarily equate to a better education.

Independent schools pupils are rarely taught for more than five hours a day, he writes for the Times, which helps students keep focused on their work.

Any hours beyond this are counter-productive as they fail to concentrate on the task at hand, Mr Seldon reported.

Improving class sizes could benefit pupils, he continued, suggesting that this is one of the areas in which independent schools have the upper hand.

Figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC) emphasise that the teacher/pupil ratio in its schools is better than those in state-run establishments.

The ratio in ISC schools stands at 9.6:1 compared to 20.9:1 for maintained secondary establishments. ADNFCR-921-ID-19526203-ADNFCR