Parents have the right to choose

Sir, – The issue at the heart of the independent schools debate is not privilege but freedom.

Our equality-obsessed government aggressively opposes diversity in education. The UN Charter of Human Rights states that “Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children,” but the SNP wants all children to receive education according to its own philosophy rather than parents being able to choose a school more in accord with their own priorities.

The state should not demand that parents hand over their children to be educated as the Government sees fit. What sort of regime can’t bear the thought that some kids will be educated outside the fold of its beneficent wisdom?

The SNP are pursuing their mission to impose educational uniformity by squeezing independent schools by financial constraints, and imposing the values and ethos of state education on them through an aggressively ideological inspection regime.

It has been heartening to see George Watson’s College fighting its corner against politicised regulatory interference.

Catholic schools try to offer a different ethos, but they are being forcefully squeezed into the mould of secular uniformity as well. He who pays the piper calls the tune.

The other route to educational diversity is home-schooling. Sweden, oft-cited beloved utopia of the SNP, made homeschooling illegal in 2010. Watch this space.

Richard Lucas. Scottish Family Party, 272 Bath Street, Glasgow.