British private schools are a continuing topic of fascination for many. In particular, the leading so-called public schools have long been subjected both to criticism for their elitism and praise for their academic success. Traditionally, Conservative governments have strongly supported the private sector through special funding such as the Assisted Places Scheme, while Labour governments have reduced the private sector's support from the state and threatened to abolish it. However, the present new Labour government has reversed Labour's former oppostion to private schools and sought co-operation between the two sectors. This has led to an increasing interest in the realities of the private schools; and this book brings together the best of recently conducted research on the various aspects of private schooling, through a series of specially commissioned, previously unpublished essays.

Are you considering private schooling for your child but feel overwhelmed by the complexities and unknowns? Do you find yourself asking, "What is the real difference between private and public education in the U.K.?" and "How can I make an informed decision when choosing a school?" This book, "Private Schooling in the U.K.: A Comprehensive Guide," is your answer. Written from the perspective of someone who has been through the same thought process as you, it provides a balanced, logical, and rational look into the world of private education. - Discover the historical context and evolution of private schooling in the U.K. - Weigh up the pros and cons of private education based on empirical evidence and data. - Understand the psychological impact of private schooling on students, backed by scientific research. - Explore the role of religion in private education, and how it shapes students. - Compare single-sex and co-educational private schools, and decide which is right for your child. - Examine the impact of socioeconomic status on access to private education. - Learn about the role of private schooling in developing social elites. - Understand the myths and realities surrounding academic performance in private schools. - Look into the future of private schooling in the U.K. - Find practical strategies to make private schooling more accessible and affordable. If you want to make the best decision for your child's future, understand the private schooling system, and navigate the world of private education with confidence, then this book is for you. Buy it today and equip yourself with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision about your child's education.

Exploring the most significant challenges facing independent schools today, this book asks leading figures from education, economics, politics, philosophy and the arts to give their views on how independent schools can adapt to rapidly changing markets which see them scrutinised as never before. Acknowledging the independent sector as a vital and growing part of the global education system, this book explores how schools are to respond to financial, moral, pastoral and academic challenges, and so ensure their own survival, and the futures of the children they educate. Breaking a complex and varied field down into ten clear areas of analysis, essays written by leading education experts tackle the key challenges faced by independent schools around the world. Commentators consider the issues created by the upward trend of educating international students, question the extent to which independent schools have echoed societal movements towards greater access, diversity and gender fluidity, and provide first-hand insight into the experiences of staff, pupils and parents involved in the everyday functioning and longer-term development of the independent sector. A health check on this most controversial of sectors, this book will enlighten and inform not only those working in independent schools today, but anyone interested in education, and will make an important contribution to a bigger debate about the place of independent schools at a time of political, economic and societal uncertainty.

Private schools are central to the reproduction of social inequality. For example, whilst in the UK providing only about seven per cent of the school population, about half of the undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge still come from the private sector. Private schools have long been associated with privilege and elitism. While this traditional elitist aspect to the private sector is still central, the private school sector is actually far more diverse that is usually acknowledged. It now includes many small schools and faith-based schools that may not offer the traditional advantages of the private sector but which provide a particular environment deemed desirable by parents. In spite of their educational and social importance, there has been very little academic research and writing on private schools. The proposed book will be the culmination of Professor Walford's research into private schools over the past twenty years.

This book investigates the changing opportunities in higher education for different social groups during China’s transition from the socialist regime to a market economy. The first part of the book provides a historical and comparative analysis of the development of the idea of meritocracy, since its early origins in China, and in more recent western thought. The second part then explores higher education reforms in China, the part played by supposedly meritocratic forms of selection, and the implications of these for social mobility. Based on original empirical data, Ye Liu sheds light on the socio-economic, gender and geographical inequalities behind the meritocratic façade of the Gaokao (高考). Liu argues that the Chinese philosophical belief in education-based meritocracy had a modern makeover in the Gaokao, and that this ideology induces working-class and rural students to believe in upward social mobility through higher education. When the Gaokao broke the promise of status improvement for rural students, they turned to the Chinese Communist Party and sought political connections by actively applying for its membership. This book reveals a bleak picture of visible and invisible inequality in terms of access to and participation in higher education in contemporary China. Written in an accessible style, it offers a valuable resource for researchers and non-specialist readers alike.

What if we had a government prepared to implement the policies that could radically change 21st-century Britain and improve people’s lives? Social and economic policies are rarely communicated clearly to the public, but it’s never been more important for citizens to understand and contribute to the debate around the country’s future. In everyday language, Rethinking Britain presents a range of ideas from some of the country’s most influential thinkers such as Kate Pickett and Ha-Joon Chang. From inflation to tax, and health to education, each contribution offers solutions which, if implemented, would lead to a fairer society. Curated by leading economists from the Progressive Economics Group and accompanied by a ‘jargon buster’, this book is an essential aid for citizens who are interested in critiquing inequalities while looking to build a better future.

Inequality is a marked and persistent feature of education systems, both in the developed and the developing worlds. Major gaps in opportunity and in outcomes have become more critical than in the past, thanks to the knowledge economy and globalization. The pursuit of equity as a goal of public policy is examined in this book through a series of national case-studies. The book covers many different global contexts from the wealthiest to some of the poorest nations on earth. It therefore offers a broad range of different theoretical and methodological approaches, and brings together extensive international experience in equity policy.

This concise study covers the development of education throughout Great Britain from the Industrial Revolution to the Great War: a period in which urbanization, industrialization and population growth posed huge social and political problems, and education became one of the fiercest areas of conflict in society.

This unique collection of essays seeks to identify the most pressing needs for policy interventions aimed at extending social mobility and life chances. It provides a valuable synthesis of evidence on the effectiveness of recent policy interventions.