What about helping schools at the bottom?

Sir, – Regarding letters about rates relief for the High School of Dundee, it’s perhaps not that independent schools offer a better education, but instead that they are afforded better pupils.

(High School of Dundee rector) Dr John Halliday rightly noted (Thursday’s Letters) that schools such as his do not receive money from the government, but I’m not convinced by his case for retaining rates relief.

Businesses employ millions of people in Britain, who otherwise may be a burden on the state if unemployed, but that doesn’t mean businesses shouldn’t pay rates. I think the Scottish Government is well aware charities such as his contribute to society – they are simply asking for a larger contribution. How Dr Halliday’s school meets those rates is his business.

My concern is more for state schools. If we believe that independent schools really do provide a better education, how is that achieved? By more, newer or different textbooks? A better teacher-to-child ratio? Better-trained teachers? All these focus on what can be bought for that extra money. But the truth may be that the children going into state schools, and their parents, have lower expectations, focus, and awareness than those in independent schools. The latter schools can select their pupils and groom them in an environment where the same high expectations are standard across the school. In state schools, how many children go in expecting to do well, and knowing why it’s important to do so? Even if they did, would their peers support or shun them? Would their parents care or even bother to ask? Perhaps those parents themselves don’t know why a good education would matter or think of it as their responsibility.

If the government wants to close the attainment gap, let’s start see improvements at the bottom, rather than pulling down the top. That means helping the children and parents directly, not just the schools and teachers. James Mason. House of the Belled Falcons, Glenfarg.

Picture: Kim Cessford. The High School of Dundee.