A private word

With reference to the letter from Brian Kelly referring to Judy Murray’s visit to St George’s School (27 September), of course there are rich parents who send their children to private schools, but many ordinary hardworking parents also send their children to these schools because they want them to receive the strong Scottish education which was once renowned worldwide and not the chaotic, continual changing education existing in state schools.

The parents want an environment where pupils and teachers respect each other and work together to achieve an all-round education for pupils, not an environment in which it appears to be a constant struggle for teachers to teach whilst also having to provide food,classroom equipment and toilet training (which used to be the job of parents)!

Parents of children at private schools are not allowed to opt out of paying taxes for state education, paying twice and willing to make other sacrifices to put their children’s education first. It will be interesting to see what happens in 2020 when charitable private schools are to lose business rates relief, and many ordinary parents will have to make the decision to send their children to state schools, schools which already are unable to cope with the pupils they have. Teachers are leaving the profession because of the conditions

in which they are expected to work and because they do not have the support from the Scottish Government. It would be marvellous if the government had the good sense and courage to raise the state education up to the level of private education instead of trying to gradually abolish private schools, bringing all Scottish education down to the current state system.

VALERIE THOMSON

Barnton Park Avenue, Edinburgh

Brian Kelly scorns parents sending their children to private schools.

Does he live in social housing, buy all his household provisions and clothes in the Coop, use only nationalised airlines, never consult private contractors like most “NHS” dentists and GPS, take only the cheapest ten-day holiday per year, and travel everywhere by public transport rather than owning a car – as to do otherwise would mean his philosophy was “I have more money and use it so my family and I have an advantage over others”?

Incidentally, my children attended state schools.

JOHN BIRKETT

Horseleys Park St Andrews, Fife