The charity which gives deprived children access to independent schools, is calling for the government to fund places.

The survey found 47% of parents agreed children should have the opportunity to attend private schools, at taxpayers' expense, regardless of family income.

Educating your child privately could cost over �9,000 a year.

Would you send your children to a private school, if you could afford it? Do you think places should be offered on the basis of merit and regardless of income?

This debate is now closed. Read your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far.

Segregating our children is not the answer Vince, Coventry UK

Under no circumstances would I send my child to private school. Real education happens where the full mix of one's local population attends. The battle should be on to continue to improve the state sector. State schools now consistently outstrip private schools in terms of value-added measures. Segregating our children is not the answer. It creates an us and them culture damaging to all.
Vince, Coventry

I recently spoke to a state school teacher who used to work at a private school. He told us that every student in his class there brought their books, arrived on time and did their work. How I would have loved that instead of having interruptions every 2 seconds by kids who didn't want to learn at my state school.
Chris, England

It would seem to me that there are 2 strands to education - gaining qualifications and socialising. The social element is best provided in state schools where a wider range of children from all sorts of backgrounds attend. It might be easier to gain qualifications in the private sector but the benefits of the state sector should not be underestimated. Most parents, however, are more interested in the qualifications gained by their children rather than the social benefits of a state education.
Jacqueline Walsh, York, UK

Whilst we continue to support an elitist, discriminatory, unfair system in which those who can are able to purchase an advantage in life, the funding to ensure that all of our children have the opportunity to flourish will be diminished.
David Boas, Hexham, Northumberland

There are good and bad sides to both Jason, UK

I've been through both the private and state education system and there are good and bad sides to both. However a lot of parents seemed to use private education as a way of avoiding coming into contact with their children. A good quality education is one where parents are involved.
Jason, UK

Maybe. Then again I could buy a house in a fantastic area and send them to an affluence-selected state school and take the moral high ground and preach about the virtues of 'inclusivity' knowing that all the disruptive kids with little parental support are well away!
Rachel, Cambridge

I send my 3 children to private school for two reasons: Disruptive behaviour isn't tolerated and the culture is one where high achievement is encouraged and expected. Both of these could and should be present in state schools.
Stewart, Warrington, Cheshire

I was at a private school and although the school in question was not hugely academic, I was encouraged and enabled to take part in a variety of sports, exercises and outdoor activities that no state school could ever hope to offer. I believe I am a more rounded person as a result and having had so many experiences - have a greater knowledge of myself and my abilities. If I could afford to I would strongly consider sending any children I had to private education - not just for the quality of the teaching, but also for the other opportunities many offer to pupils.
Peter, London

Education isn't all about exam results Charlotte, Southampton

I'm only 19 but when I have children I will definitely be sending them to a private school. I never went to a state school and after talking to state educated friends at university I'm glad that I didn't. I've had so many more opportunities than they've had put together and I want that for my children. However I do think that the state should provide the same opportunities at its schools. Education isn't all about exam results.
Charlotte, Southampton

State schools will only improve when the pushy, middle- and upper-class parents are forced to send their children to them.
Adam, London

I think fewer parents would feel the need to send their children to private schools if the grammer school systems was re-introduced. We have the stupid system where a limited number of grammar places are available but are mostly filled by children coming from private schools who have been coached in how to pass the entry exam!
Karen, Surrey

Make all schools independent and financed out of taxation Rob , London, UK

Independent schools exist because parents like high quality, responsiveness and to have choice. All the advantages stem from lack of control by the DofE and LEA's. The solution? Make all schools independent and financed out of taxation.
Rob , London, UK

I'd work out what's best for my child. I went to comprehensive school and hated every minute of it - it wasn't 'cool' to be clever and teachers were too busy sorting out pupils who threw chairs out of the window to tailor lessons for the more able. However, the few people I know who did go to private school may have had better teaching but also had to deal with the snob values that went with it and competitiveness over money. I saw in the news that Eton expelled pupils for drug taking this week, just goes to show that private schools aren't perfect!
Anna Hornsey, London, UK

I can't decide if I'm amused or depressed by the large number of blatantly stereotyped and ill-informed comments being made here. There are good and bad state schools, there are good and bad private schools. More specifically, private schools are by no means all about purely academic achievement, the reason I chose one for my son is precisely that - it focus's on developing the whole person, unlike any of the local state schools.
Mark, UK

I attended a single-sex state grammar school which was a complete academic hot-house. I left with decent enough A levels but at University was light-years behind my comprehensive-educated friends in terms of social skills and life experience. If I have children they'll certainly be going to the local comprehensive. Grades aren't everything.
Anne-Marie, UK

The state school system is mostly OK Bob Blakey, Exeter, England

No, I would not send my children to a private school. On the evidence of many privately educated children I know the extra cost quite clearly outweighs any benefits. And I find the suggestion that private schooling for some children should be funded by other taxpayers quite outrageous; the state school system is mostly OK as long as the parents/children are prepared to make the effort. If you cannot afford something why expect somebody else to pick up the bill?
Bob Blakey, Exeter, England

It depends on your child, what is right for them. For some children being in an environment that is much more about achievement is best - they will do even better. For others, it would be a nightmare, as they could never 'compete'. State schools are good at producing balanced individuals socially, but they are not good at producing academics. Private schools, as far as I have seen, teach wider academics, but have limited social outlook. Fit the school to your child.
Bruce, Ayr, Scotland

Fortunately I'm past that point now, but if I needed to, I'd look at the local schools to see how they fared in the league tables. If they were ok then I'd use them, if not I'd find a way to send my kids to private schools. They only get one chance at education, you can't afford to mess it up for them.
John R Smith, UK

I went to public school, and I can afford to educate my children privately. But I would only do this as a last resort, and my decision would be based entirely on whether the available local schools were of sufficient quality (which, currently, they are). However, I would never, ever send them to boarding school - the experience scarred me for life!
Edward, UK

I send my child to private school, though the costs require me to work as an expat, away during half of each month. When we parents make choices for the sake of our children's education, nobody - neither government nor do-gooders - has a right to question us, or even set up barriers for those with even less income.
Michael, London/ Tokyo

The comprehensive system fails everyone Zoe, Oxford

I went to a state comprehensive in the north-east. It was a good school for the area and I did really well in my A-levels. But I hated it every day. The comprehensive system fails everyone. It teaches to the lowest common denominator. No-one who excels at anything is nurtured. Being mediocre is forced on everyone. I am studying at Oxford University now and many of my fellow students have been to private schools. They have had so many more opportunities. They are all so confident. They have done debating, acting, music, competitive sports (rather than being forced to jog round a field in the rain which is my experience of school PE).
Zoe, Oxford

I am totalling against private schools as ALL children deserve the best, not just those whose parents can afford to pay for their education. Unfortunately, the increasing amount of children attending private school will ultimately bring about the demise of state schools as the government will be under less pressure to improve the situation. Just one sobering thought for parents on both sides of the equation, money cannot buy intelligence or ability. The true stars will still shine regardless.
Lisa M, UK

That's a tricky one. Should my children be in a class with just 15 other pupils, have adequate books, a clean environment and be amongst other children that WANT to learn? Have a guess!
James Murphy, Dorset, UK

I studied at a state school, but I met lots of ex-private school students when I went to one of the "elite" universities. The most disturbing thing for me was to see how mentally unbalanced many of the public school products were - the nation's so-called "top" private schools seem to put so much pressure on their students to "succeed" that they turn into breeding grounds for anorexia, bulimia, depression, drug abuse and a whole host of other difficult problems. There's no way I would send my kids into that kind of environment - even if they got slightly lower grades, at least they would stay sane!!
Margaret, UK

If I could afford it I would send my son to a private school. I believe who would get a better education there. I wish the government would introduce a voucher system to allow parents the choice. I would be happy to contribute what I can reasonably afford towards his education.
Carmilla Yarwood, Petersfield, Hampshire

We will just end up with another ever-widening gap between rich and poor Katherine, London, UK

Nope, not in a million years. I went to a pretty scabby comprehensive and had various opportunities to go for scholarships but never did. I got excellent exam results and went to Cambridge University, where I discovered that many of the people there had no clue how the world was for most people. One terribly nice guy even said to me once that he had never met a 'poor person'. Better funded and run state education is by far the fairest way forward, otherwise we will just end up with another ever-widening gap between rich and poor.
Katherine, London, UK

Yes - but taxpayers should not subsidise them. I believe places in private schools should be based on first come first served basis, paid totally by parents - no subsidised places. If people do not want their children educated in state schools with the masses that is their right (assuming the child also wants it).
Les, Morpeth, England

Private education has little to do with snob value and more to do with wanting the best for your child, giving them the best possible start in life. Who wouldn't want the best for their children? A good education sets a child up for a much better future.
Andrew Knight, Blackpool

I do not think a full education in a private school is a good idea. Every child should be subject to absolutely equal conditions and terms for the first 5-6 years of education, thereafter possibility to disperse into private education. One main task of a common school is to give all inhabitants of a nation a common factor, a tool for unity and belonging. You will not achieve that in private education that starts separating rather than uniting a population.
Mikko Toivonen (Attended private school in London), Helsinki, Finland

Children are missing out on being part of a fantastic social mix Peter Judge, Yorks, UK

Never. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. But by missing out on being at the local comprehensive, children are missing out on being part of a fantastic social mix.
Peter Judge, Brighouse, Yorks, UK

Oh please!! A school is as good as the support it receives, and not just the finances or manpower, but that from the parents of its pupils. Support your local school! After all, you pay for it from your taxes, why would you want to pay again? Surely education is not just about grades or places in a misleading league table? Isn't it about producing children with enquiring minds who are aware of their environment and community; all of it, not just those who have money?
Maria, Raynes Park London

I went to a state school and can confidently say that the level of some of the education I received was downright awful! In my English lessons we were never once taught about grammar, sentence construction, etc - we spent our time reading puerile rubbish from "modern" authors. Consequently when we attempted to learn French and the teacher spoke of infinitives and the like, we were clueless!
Mark, Manchester

I will be sending my children to private school. My cousin went on a scholarship and he can now see the benefits. Class sizes are smaller and teachers have more time to spend with each child. Private schools are invaluable in creating well-rounded children.
Andrea Webb, Cardiff

If we are going to compare schools, let's at least try to get a level playing field! John Granger, Bournemouth

Perhaps parents would be more likely to opt for state schools which had �9,000 p.a. available to spend on their children? If we are going to compare schools, let's at least try to get a level playing field!
John Granger, Bournemouth

Absolutely. Think of the old boy network access your children would get, mixing with all those children of Labour MPs.
Roger, UK

I most certainly would send my children to private school, if I had any and could afford to. You do end up paying twice to educate your child, but it is far better than paying once and them receiving the dreadful education that seems standard in state schools now. We used to have an education system based on merit, but it was abolished as it was 'elitist'. I wonder if anyone regrets that hasty, populous decision now.
Chris, Bradford, UK

I sent my children to private school. My step-children went to state schools. Out of the four secondary schools of which I have direct experience the best by far was a state school. Privately educating children just because "private is best" is not good enough. Parents should seek the best school and worry about their own prejudices afterwards.
John, Fleet, UK

I went to a state comprehensive school, but at university I met a lot of kids who went to private schools. They showed more confidence and maturity, and settled in quicker than us state-schoolers. I would certainly consider a private school, unless a suitable state grammar was in my area.
Russ, London, UK

We send our son to private school and his brother is due to join him next year. Ideally we would have liked to send them to a state school, some of which are very good locally, but his current school has a distinct advantage. It concentrates on instilling confidence into the pupils and has the freedom to do so. Twenty pupils to a class with one teacher and two assistants is also a positive. Our choice was a simple one - good state or excellent independent.
R.C.Robjohn, UK

While I left with excellent grades, I think parents need to be aware of the pressures children face at highly competitive private schools MGF, UK

I went to a private secondary school. While I left with excellent GCSE and A-level grades, I think parents need to be aware of the pressures children face at highly competitive private schools. It's great to always get an A- for your homework, but if your friends always get A + it eventually destroys your confidence (dependent on your personality). I ended up going to an excellent University and am doing well in a competitive profession, but it is only now, ten years since leaving school, that I have confidence in my own ability and realise what a capable human being I am

Grades are not everything. Parents need to be aware that children's inter-personal skills and outside interests are also important, and these can perhaps be honed more effectively outside of private education. While my teachers were some of the most inspirational, encouraging people I've ever met, I would ask parents to think about their child's total needs before opting for a private education!
MGF, UK

Having spent my educational years in a state school, I can confidently say that I would send my kids to a private one! State schools insist on the farcical practise of mixing all abilities in one class, in order that "those less capable children don't feel inferior". What a complete load of utter rubbish! My education suffered terribly due to having to share classes with children who had no interest in trying to learn and were only interested in disrupting classes. Those who were capable got bored waiting for those less capable, and those less capable got fed up that they were always the ones struggling to understand what others easily understood. IT DOESN'T WORK!
Trev, UK

My school option was a choice between the 2 local comprehensive schools, but the reason my parents chose one over the other was the interest that the teachers took in all the pupils and lessons. It doesn't matter what size the class is as far as I'm concerned; if the teacher is interesting and enthusiastic then children will find it easy to learn.
Rachel Thomas, Swansea

Of course I would put my children in private school if they had to go back to live in the UK but I've gone one step further and taken them away from the country altogether so they're getting not only a better education but better healthcare too, and generally a better standard of living, in a country which pays 38% tax I might add.
Jennifer, Netherlands, ex UK

My mother insisted I went to private school, probably in my best interests and I hated every waking second of it, the memories of being there still haunt me today - within the regime we had to go to school on Saturdays, do an hour of games every day regardless of weather and do 90 mins homework at school before we went home. This meant I got home (as a child of 10-13) at gone 6 in the evening. I was very unhappy there and would urge any parent who is thinking of sending their kids to private school to think about the consequences it may have. I was also bullied on occasion by the kids in my village for going to a 'posh school'. I have never completely forgiven my mum for doing this to me. It also meant my poor father had to work all hours God sent to pay for me and my siblings to attend these prisons.
Anon, England

I attended a state school and feel I missed out on a decent education Laura, Thornton

I attended a state school and feel I missed out on a decent education. I was in the top groups throughout, but the majority of teachers were so pressurised, they are unable to help you reach your maximum potential, through no fault of their own - there are some wonderful teachers working in state schools. However, when I have children, I will seriously consider sending them to a private school, if they agree to it. It has nothing to do with snobbery, but I want to give my kids the best possible chances in life.
Laura, Thornton

The main benefit of the private school system is probably that parents only seek if they are interested in the children's education. More interested parents mean more motivated children, and few if any disruptive pupils. Places in a private school on the basis of merit not income.... hmm, how about reintroducing the terms '11-plus' and 'grammar school'; oh, no, can't do that, sorry, not politically acceptable...
Richard B., Southampton

I would pay to send my children to a private school if the local comprehensive school could not do as much for working-class children as the local state grammar school did for me in the late 1950s.
John , U.K.

I would send my two boys into a private school like a shot, but as I cannot afford to do so they have to make do with a private tutor twice a week. It is here where they get their education not the primary school where classes are already being disrupted as the "conscripted" choir are preparing for the "showpiece" Christmas concert!
Tony King, UK

What is the point of sending your kids to private school when the universities are being made to discriminate against them in favour of kids from state schools? A total waste of money in my view.
Matt, London

Parents want more choice Michael Perman, London

If the Labour government had not ignored the rights of parents in state education by destroying the grammar school system we would not now be in a position where such distinctions are being made. It is frankly ludicrous to suggest that private schools breed snobbery and elitism. Private schools exist and continue to proliferate because parents want more choice and they don't currently get it from the state system.
Michael Perman, London

As a friend of mine's 12 year old son once said to my girlfriend who had asked him "Whether he was making friends at his new school" (Harrow), "One does not make friends, one makes contacts" enough said.
Richard Hammond, London

Until I was 15, I lived in Cheshire and attended my local state school. Most of the schools in my area were excellent, and I don't think my parents ever considered private education. When I moved to Nottingham in the last year of my GCSEs I was shocked at the difference in quality of education. I was at an inner city comprehensive where the sports and music facilities were almost non-existent, the teachers didn't want to teach, and the abundance of trouble makers in the classroom meant that bright, motivated pupils were left to fend for themselves. The decision of whether to educate my children privately or through the state system would depend entirely on the quality of schools in my area.
TMD, Nottingham

The three years I spent at a private school were the most unhappy of my life. Bullying and snobbery were rife. When I transferred back into the state system it was impossible for me to regain the educational ground I had lost, especially in maths and sciences.
WF, Aylesbury

My wife and I both went to state schools and we'd rather not send our kids to private school(s) if at all possible. But we were lucky enough to be educated in countries with decent education systems, Scotland in my case and Germany in that of my wife. The English education system is in a mess and particularly so in London. We may be lucky and get them into a decent primary but there are NO secondary schools where we live, so they'll have to travel or we'll have to move. We don't want to have to bear the expense of private education but I'm worried we may have no choice, as the sink schools in inner London can be pretty grim.
Mike Woof, London, UK

I was "lucky" enough to be accepted into a grammar school where the exam results are amongst the highest in the country, but was bullied by both pupils and teachers for the majority of my stay. As a consequence my results were good, but I still suffer from severe psychological problems twelve years after leaving and see no signs of improvement. Exam results are not the be-all and end-all, so, parents, for God's sake, look beyond grades, and ensure that whichever school you choose, it will not screw your kid up for the rest of their life.
Steve, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The system is plagued by lack of financial and human resources Andy D, Oxford

I am currently investigating this option for my daughter, even if we have to sell our house to fund it! Why? because despite the best efforts of some of the teachers at her current state primary the system is plagued by lack of financial and human resources. Facilities and opportunities for a wide range of activities both within the curriculum and outside the curriculum are severely limited. In addition large class sizes with children of widely mixed abilities and motivation make effective learning extremely difficult.
Andy D, Oxford

I will when I have children. Where is the sport, education and opportunity in state schools these days? Oversized classes and no future - thanks to the government! No wonder there is an obesity problem with children.
Lance, St Albans

I sent my children to private school. It is the duty of parents to provide the best they can for their own children. It has nothing to do with "snob values" and everything to do with giving one's children the best possible start in life.
NK, UK

After hearing enough of the claptrap from Blair whilst my son was in a class of 35 children I decided to do what was best for his education. As to the comment about why people will pay but object to taxes rising, it is simple. Do you trust the chancellor to spend the money on education? I certainly don't.
John, UK

Many of the people I knew at the school have turned out to be insufferable snobs and bigots Mr B, Gibraltar

I went to private school. I had a part scholarship so it was easier for my parents to afford sending me there. The education I received was very poor (to this day I have not read a word of Shakespeare and know no Latin) and as a result, when I left I had to spend a year in another school to get the grades I needed to go to a good university. Many of the people I knew at the school have turned out to be insufferable snobs and bigots. I would send my child to public school but I wouldn't take it as read that a public school provides a quality education or will help a child to grow up to be a better, more rounded person.
Mr B, Gibraltar

I have had two children go through state schools and one through private education. Even though the state schools are amongst the best in the country, the private school is vastly better. The teachers are there to educate only and are of a considerable higher standard than the state schools.
John Karran, Merseyside, UK

Unfortunately the debate is blurred by parents wanting the best for their child (more than understandable) but then wanting to shut the door behind them. I went to a state school and am now just about to start my PhD. Admittedly the facilities weren't as sparkling as they could have been but passionate teachers and helpful parenting meant I was able to knuckle down when I needed to. I think the only true benefit of a private education (to the pupil) is a network of Old Boys to help them land that elusive fund manager position in the city and an unshakeable self-belief.
Jen, Brighton, UK

The system itself is woefully flawed Brendan MacLean, Birmingham, UK

Having worked within the state education system for seven years before walking out in complete disgust, there is no way I would ever subject my children to state funded education. This is in no way a criticism of the professionals that work within that sector, but the system itself is woefully flawed and fails completely to provide anything like a balanced education. SATs and GCSEs do not make a good education, they merely provide statistics for politicians to boast about.
Brendan MacLean, Birmingham, UK

This seems very strange to me, parents saying they would happily fork out for the extra and considerable sums of money for private education, but if the chancellor suggested raising tax to better fund state education then there would be uproar and these same people would be indignant at the extra tax demands. At the end of the day, sending a child private these days has nothing to do with a better quality of education, but everything to do with bragging rights and the snob values of the parents.
Alex, Bolton

I would definitely send my kids to private school, on the proviso that they wanted to go. I was given the choice and I decided that it would be best for me. My local comp classes were 30+ in size, my biggest GCSE class at private school was 17 and for A-Level it was 8. In my view this is what you are paying for, more individual attention. Sure, there are still bad things there, I was bullied for ages as I was the 'poor' kid in the class (I had a scholarship) but I think I did better than I would have done if I had not gone.
Andrew, Baldock, Herts

Just privatise state education David R, Plymouth UK

Why not just privatise state education? Then there would be no difference between a private school receiving money from the state to take some pupils and a "state" school receiving money. The only difference now is the Government has greater control over state schools than private ones.
David R, Plymouth UK

I fail to see the attraction of private schools. I did not go to private school, my school was in a deprived area of Glasgow and my education was great, over 60% of my year went on to university. If children are brought up to respect and value education then they will achieve results no matter what school they go to.
Joanne, Glasgow

Of course. Take my five-year-old son as an example. There is an extremely disruptive child in his class, the teacher spends effectively all her time keeping him under control, the other kids don't get educated. This disruptive child will move up through the school with my son, thus my son and his peers will get limited if any education till they move on to the next school, or we all withdraw our kids! In a private school, the disruptive child would be excluded very quickly as the parents of the other kids would otherwise object to paying for a non service!
Simon, UK

Your correspondent, Simon, is absolutely right. At an open evening, we were recently told that in our son's state secondary school science class, they dare not conduct any experiments because of the disruptive nature of some of the pupils. As in so many other aspects of British life, democracy now means that the "rights" of an anti-social minority are allowed to dictate what the majority may do.
John Prosser, London UK