Statement

WEIR CONCERNED OVER PREP SCHOOL FUNDING SPECULATION 

Posted on: December 21, 2009

“I am concerned at what seems to be well informed speculation that the Department of Education are poised to axe any funding to preparatory school pupils. While some may have little concern over what they see as a privileged few, I believe that this is an illjudged and ill informed opinion. Parents of preparatory school pupils already pay about 80 % of fees at their schools, with the Government only covering about £800 per pupil. To remove this funding will force these schools to be effectively entirely private, and is likely to lead to some prep schools closing. Prep schools teach about 2500 pupils each year, and in effect this decision will force many of those pupils to change schools. This will mean that in many cases public funding of these pupils will increase from 20% to 100%. At a time of financial burden, how does that extra financial burden to the public purse make sense. 

It is hard to believe therefore that any decision to axe funding is purely driven by financial sense or educational need. It is hard not to discern the same narrow political dogma being driven by the Minister and others within the Education Department as guides her views on academic selection. Yet again dogma seems to override financial or common sense. We must be careful as at this point this possible decision is still speculative, but if it translates into reality then it must be fought.”