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Cameron Wylie is a retired private-school head. He taught English at Daniel Stewart’s and Melville College, then spent decades at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh, finishing as Principal (head) of that independent school. He retired in 2017 after nearly 40 years in fee-paying schools.
He is a long-term critic, from that fee-paying world, of the SNP’s education policies after a period of SNP support and once declaring that he had voted Tory to help Ruth Davidson.
He has written in the media, especially in the Scotsman, at least 60 times, to question SNP policy and, ironically, laughably (?), their ‘failure’ to close the poverty-related attainment gap. I have to wonder, though only briefly, how he squared this apparently egalitarian ambition with his career in a sector that plays such a part in perpetuating the bigger socio-economic gap making the closure of the attainment gap almost impossible unless you plan a Maoist approach simply sending all the wee George Heriots into the fields and all the Craig Millars to his school.
Am I going to read the latest, above. You know the answer. No way. I know what he has to say. The answers are the same. Here they are:
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Or by direct bank transfer to: JOHN WATSON ROBERTSON Sort Code – 08-91-04 Account – 12266421
More? There’s plenty.
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Talking-up Scotland 
Please collect your caption.
GEORGE Wylie was a splendid, witty sculptor from Greenock.
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I presume you meant ….Please correct your caption.
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I need a proof reader!!!
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You have us!
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Out of interest, given your expertise…do you think that fee-paying schools in Scotland should be forced out of existence via VAT and other targeted measures irrespective of likely considerable cost to the taxpayer, job losses etc as these schools fold? I had always thought ‘live and let live’ in a democracy but bring state schools to such a standard, ideally with co-operation between the two sectors, that the fee-paying option becomes redundant. That seems to be happening already in areas like East Renfrewshire, only the premium is in house prices so that differentials are maintained in another way. Also any thoughts on SNP/Scottish Government taking the Scottish populist win over adopting Westminster’s legislation when the VAT policy in particular would not be allowed in the EU, which the SNP/Scottish Government wish to rejoin. Seems hypocritical, but I would welcome expert comment.
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VAT is surely an English government matter…maybe an ‘expert’ can clear that one up for us. A few £’s on private/public/privileged schools costs would not ‘force them out of existence’, that’s just silly.
Having known a few people who have been lucky enough to attend a ‘fee paying school’ in Scotland, the privilege extends way beyond school, once they leave they are much more likely to be employed in high end high paying jobs, and take on directorships etc, that’s a fact. So why should tax payers, workers/worked folks, foot the bill for the more privileged folks in Scotland?
No thanks!
Ps, We all know that the EU would welcome Scotland. 🙂
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In Scotland those privileged uni students will not pay the massive tuition fees as they do in England, so no fees when they attend a university in Scotland, and they get free bus travel, pay no prescription charges, enjoy cheap rail travel, etc.
The ‘fee paying option’ will never become ‘redundant’ as it gives many more opportunities and privileges to those who have a private school name on their CV. It’s not only about the schooling, it’s about enhanced life chances, whether it’s about guarenteed places at university, or more chance of being taken on in high end jobs etc, fact.
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No VAT exemption and let them wither away?
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There is no attainment gap in Scotland. There are 25% mature students. Add them into the equation. 30% go from school. 25% mature students. 7% EU students. (Was 15% Brexit). Foreign students paying the full cost. Scotland has the highest degree population in the world. 15 universities. 5.5million population. The highest in the world. The mature students are unlikely to be doing 2nd degree. They have to pay the full cost. Fees & support.
30% + 25% + 7%. 62%. Plus foreign students. Based on the abilities to learn. No the ability to pay. Colleges and apprenticeships. Canada is next 56%.
US only 40% have highest degrees. Lower life expectancy. 76 years. Gun Laws. Killing each other.
Scotland has 4 year degrees. There could be 3 year degrees. Colleges HNC- HND. – Second year university. Access courses. Guarantee places.
Thatcher introduced higher education for those who did not go straight from school. To fill up universities. Lower birth rate. Contraception 1960.
Blair? introduced loans. Before there were grants and a smaller university numbers. 11+ Only 10% went to university. So only 10% could have a professional job. Doctor, lawyer etc.
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Private schools. 25% of students bursaries. Second child half price. Small class sizes.
Fifth and six years education. Smaller class sizes.
Neurodiverse support. Exceptional talents. Anxiety.
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