Parents will move house to ensure best school
17 Oct 2007
New poll reveals parents are prepared to uproot to guarantee their child gets a place at a reputable school
Many parents across the UK would be prepared to move house if it meant their child was able to go to a good school, according to a new poll commissioned by The Children’s Society as part of The Children’s Society’s Good Childhood Inquiry.
Fifty one per cent of the parents surveyed said they would consider moving house, while 14 per cent commented that they would even give false information, such as lying about their faith or where they live.
Bob Reitemeier, The Children’s Society Chief Executive, said: ‘The lengths that parents are prepared to go to clearly indicate that there are huge variations in school standards. But for many parents, the costly exercise of moving house to get their child into a good school is simply not an option. The current system is in danger of embedding inequality by making a child’s social class and economic circumstances the key influencer in their educational success. Unless we create a system where all children have equal access to a good education, millions of children will be denied a fair start in life.’
Kathy Sylva, Professor of Educational Psychology at The University of Oxford who is leading the inquiry’s investigation into learning said: ‘Learning does not start and end at the school gates. Reserach shows that children also learn through play and from spending time with family and friends. We must consider how to ensure that children thrive in all these environments. If we want to equip children for all aspects of future life, teaching them to be literate is not enough, we need to widen the scope and invest in the emotional social skills they will require day to day.
Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: ‘These are disturbing findings. They demonstrate that the right to choose a school is being used by those who have the financial capacity to make such choices. The Children’s Society is wrong however in saying its figures indicate huge variations in school standards. The real culprit is legislation which promotes so called ‘choice’ and ‘diversity’ of schools. This merely exacerbates social divisions and encourages parents to neglect good local schools in their own communities.’
For more information on the Good Childhood Inquiry visit The Good Childhood Inquiry
