I people delude themselves with thinking their children are better off in a Government school so be it but sadly it is their childrens loss.
I think we should go back to the much maligned "Streaming". The fact is a lot of handy children would be a lot happier and successful if they started a trades based education from primary school.
If a child shows more academic promise later in schooling he can always be changed to a more academic education.
The nonsense talked about streaming hides the fact is the stopping of it was only to the teachers benefit not the pupils.
I am old enough to have seen both and now the results are obvious to all but the unionised teachers

It isn't the year 12 marks that are the end result. It is the students ability to complete the university course that is the subject of the research. It has always been the case that the privileged children who are spoon fed in their younger years do not cope as well as their contemporaries who have to learn to compete in the real world. Many of the former are not even capable of completing first year university, particularly in the subjects that matter like maths and science

David

Having been to a state school myself and Uni. and my 3 children going to a private school (and we struggled every year to pay the fees)I can see the difference

There is a major difference, not in which school gets the most A's, but private schools teach life skills that are sadly missing in state schools. e.g. manners, discipline, respect for elders, money management etc.

My sons friends from private schools always say hello to my wife and I, don't swear in front of us, offer to help my wife bring in the groceries and guess what, they all have part time jobs. Not because they are intelligent but because they know how to behave.

My niece's friends wont give me the time of day (even though we have a open door policy at home and always welcome teenagers (not our own) for lunch or dinner.

I am self employed and employ people, it is manners and discipline that will get you a job interview and employment, not necessary your qualifications.

Every parent wants the best for their children, if you can afford it, go to a private school, you will be giving them the best start in life.

As for private school teachers , they can be sacked for poor performance, sadly unless you murder someone, a state school teacher has a job for life. As I travel around schools in our state, I see first hand the teachers who have just given up, but wont move to other employment as they are waiting for their tax payer generous pension.

Hmmm. I wonder what would happen to results if the government schools were given the same budgets as the private schools. This article admits there is inequality of opportunity and therefore, I submit, the system is undemocratic. Every child, no matter what their parents do, is as deserving as the other!

'Hmmm. I wonder what would happen to results if the government schools were given the same budgets as the private schools. '

Hmmm I wonder what would happen if private schools got the same amount of tax payers money as public schools. Currently they receive much less with far better results. I am not sure why will keep rewarding failure with more money. That's right the teachers union is in bed with the Labour/Greens.

You don't have to wonder Atlarak, I can tell you.

The union would make damn sure all extra resources were paid to the same C & D grade teachers to go through the same motions, & make sure not a single cent was wasted on those annoying kids.

Give them the right to sack the totally useless bottom 20% of the teaching staff, & the places would blossom.