Introducing the Minister of no faith in communities

10 January 2007

The Guardian
Letter to the editor

Simon Jenkins seems to be stuck in a time-warp when he says that parents choose independent schools for social reasons (Introducing the minister of no faith in communities). That may have been true when his own parents sent him to an independent school in the 1950s. Nowadays, the million parents from all social classes who choose independent education are looking for a good all-round education which suits the individual child. Some choose independent schools for positive reasons - they want what OECD research shows is the best education in the world. Others go independent because their child is failing to thrive in the state system. Simon Jenkins also ignores the tens of thousands of parents with children in both sectors (are they making two "social" statements at the same time?) and the thousands of parents who choose to educate their children at home. What statement are they making?

Jonathan Shephard
General Secretary, Independent Schools Council