One of the big differences between Independent Schools and State Schools is the amount of money that the Independents can invest in their schools.
Abingdon School are currently building a Science Centre – thanks to the generosity of corporate sponsors, parents, and former pupils, and the leadership of their Head and governors.
Work has begun.
Nearby at St Helen and St Katherine – another Independent School in Abingdon, the new Science Centre should be up and ready after the summer holidays.
Reminds me of an old Leon Rosselson song:
If the sons of company directors,
And judges’ private daughters,
Had to go to school in a slum school,
Dumped by some joker in a damp back alley,
Had to herd into classrooms cramped with worry,
With a view onto slagheaps and stagnant pools,
Had to file through corridors grey with age,
And play in a crackpot concrete cage.
Chorus
Buttons would be pressed,
Rules would be broken.
Strings would be pulled
And magic words spoken.
Invisible fingers would mould
Palaces of gold.
Michael Gove made the case that state schools should be as good as private schools. I guess Abingdon and St Helens receive about 15k p.a. from fees but state schools get about 4k per pupil………go figure.
Today the wet play area at the Abbey Meadows was not working. There was a written explanation by the entrance to the swimming pool. It said it would be closed for 2 days due to resurfacing and maintenance. Now this is the kind of thing that gets me cross! Why do this essential work on day 2 of the school summer holidays and when temperatures hit 30?!
Back on-topic: More strength to them, independent or otherwise. If all schools were able (freed ?) to invest at this level in the Science and Engineering disciplines, and at this standard of excellence, the UK would probably be better placed than it now appears.
Sasha, I noticed last week that the water park had a large gash in the surface which coincided with new graffiti in the nearby play area. So it looks like vandalism is to blame.
Thanks Davor. It makes sense now!