How does it work the public school administration in England?

Posted on March 5th, 2010 by admin in public school | 3 Comments »

I hear at bbc podcasts that private school and public schools aren’t submitted to the same curriculum. How does it work public schools in England? Are the teachers and adminstrative staff public clerks or other kind of contract?

US ‘private school’ = UK ‘public school’ aka fee-paying
US ‘public school’ = UK ’state school’

Another little bit of confusion to the mix are Academies which are state funded but allowed greater freedom than regular state schools.

State school are forced to follow the national curriculum, fee-paying aren’t.

State school teachers are employed under a specific teachers’ contract controlled by the local authority. Fee-paying school teachers are employees of private companies and have whatever contract the school chooses.

State school have poorer results than fee-paying schools for a variety of reasons. Possibly better teachers (better pay and conditions to attract them, the ability to get rid of duds), but also more motivated/intelligent parents and therefore more motivated/intelligent students, better resources, better teacher to pupil ratios, the freedom to get rid of any trouble makers.

The current quazi-socialist government does not like fee-paying schools or home education for that matter because it wants to tightly control the curriculum and prevent the uppity middle classes over educating their children.

3 Responses

  1. Duffer Says:

    If you are in the US you need to know that there is a fundamental difference in terminology in the UK American public schools are what we call State schools, with the teachers employed by the local authority and the curriculum dictated by the government of the day in conjunction with the examining boards.
    American private schools are UK public schools, the pupils of which (or their parents) are fee-paying. They generally attract a higher grade of teacher (because the pay is better) and consequently exam results are generally better. The curriculum is parallel to the State school’s. Teachers are directly employed and the State (i.e. the government) gives no funding and has little influence.
    References :

  2. cathrl69 Says:

    A public school in England _is_ a private school. Are you trying to ask about state schools?

    Teachers in England are…teachers. Why would they be clerks?
    References :

  3. firebird2110x Says:

    US ‘private school’ = UK ‘public school’ aka fee-paying
    US ‘public school’ = UK ’state school’

    Another little bit of confusion to the mix are Academies which are state funded but allowed greater freedom than regular state schools.

    State school are forced to follow the national curriculum, fee-paying aren’t.

    State school teachers are employed under a specific teachers’ contract controlled by the local authority. Fee-paying school teachers are employees of private companies and have whatever contract the school chooses.

    State school have poorer results than fee-paying schools for a variety of reasons. Possibly better teachers (better pay and conditions to attract them, the ability to get rid of duds), but also more motivated/intelligent parents and therefore more motivated/intelligent students, better resources, better teacher to pupil ratios, the freedom to get rid of any trouble makers.

    The current quazi-socialist government does not like fee-paying schools or home education for that matter because it wants to tightly control the curriculum and prevent the uppity middle classes over educating their children.
    References :
    Home educating in England

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