Sir: I scan the school league tables, published today (21 November), with scepticism and irritation. I work as a teacher in the London borough of Southwark, albeit in the College of Further Education. I also run English classes for recently arrived refugees and asylum-seekers, aged 14-16, from Southwark secondary schools.
The independent schools in the borough that achieve the top places in the league tables are under no obligation to educate these pupils, nor, as selective schools, do they have any obligation towards pupils with any kinds of special needs. The state schools take in all of them, and in Southwark they constitute quite a high proportion of all schoolchildren.
How can the performance and outcomes of the two types of school be compared?
Yours sincerely,
Caroline Beamish
London, SW9
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments