Schools in Europe and the US – Private vs State, Comparing the Two Systems. Festive Picks in London and Beyond.

Saturday December 17th, 2022

Welcome to your final update of 2022! In this December issue, we’ll be looking at education systems in different countries and comparing the role of private vs public (or state) education in other parts of Europe and the US.

We’ve also collated a selection of some of the best festive events and activities in London – enjoy!

Independent (and private or public) schools in the UK

Any international comparison of the state vs private education sector is slightly complicated by the terminology. As you’ll know, it’s not applied consistently across all countries; for example, in the UK we might refer to fee-paying schools as ‘public’ (or private as well as independent). In other European countries however, a public school is the UK equivalent of a state school (no fees and a curriculum set by local or national governments or other statutory bodies).

In the UK, one school in every seven or eight is independent (or private or public). To put that in context, the UK had 32,226 schools in total during the 2021/22 academic year. Around 2,420 of those are independent schools.

Private vs state education in Germany

In 2019, private schools accounted for 14% of all schools in Germany, representing a rapid growth this side of the millennium. The number of privately funded schools has almost doubled over 25 years to 5,855 during the 2020/2021 academic year.

There’s a national law that states children living in Germany aged six to 15 must attend school – home-schooling is not an option. Beyond that general rule, each of the 16 German states is responsible for its own education policy, although ministers of education from every state meet biannually to align plans and practices. It’s interesting that there’s a marked difference across the country, with more students in the east and the south attending private schools than their counterparts in northern and western Germany.

Pupils at public (i.e. state-run) schools in Germany don’t wear uniform; not all private schools insist on uniform either, but most charge tuition fees and require an admission test. However, tuition fees are means tested and schools must adjust the cost based on parents’ income or offer other benefits. Students tend to follow the German curriculum as per their state school counterparts, working towards their Abitur (the equivalent of A Levels and the International Baccalaureate – allowing access to higher education). As in the UK, some private schools offer alternative qualifications to the traditional Abitur.

Free education in France and the growing popularity of the private sector

Although state education in France has always been highly regarded, some statistics suggest that for the last 50 years, one French pupil in every three has attended a private school. (Although a snapshot of any given year suggests it’s probably more like one in five.) That may in large part be due to parents preferring a religious grounding to their child’s education, with around 85% of France’s 12,500 private schools being connected to the Catholic Church.

Traditionally, state schools such as Lycee Louis-le-Grand and Lycee Henri IV have frequently been compared to Eton and Harrow, in terms of preparing the future leaders of the nation. For example, Henri IV numbers Emmanuel Macron among its illustrious alumni (the current French President studied at the Paris school for a year).

But recent international league tables have shown France falling behind countries including the UK and the US in the world rankings for pupils’ performance in maths and reading. Alongside a shortfall in teachers for state schools and a national index that showed state secondary schools being outperformed by their private counterparts, this is changing the private vs public perspective for parents in France.

And private schools are relatively low cost (by UK standards at least, averaging less than 1,000 euros per academic year at secondary level) because the state pays teachers in most private schools, and councils fund the buildings’ maintenance, further blurring the private / public boundaries.

Switzerland’s strong state education sector

In Switzerland, a high proportion (over 95%) of the population attend public (i.e. state-run) schools. Synonymous with efficiency, reliability and high standards of living, the country is also renowned for its excellence in education. Domestic and international students alike benefit from its multicultural and multilingual opportunities. But the cost of living can make it an expensive option. Many parents whose children are considering hospitality courses ask us if Switzerland is the obvious choice. And although the country’s 150-year heritage in luxury tourism makes it a great place to study the art of hospitality, there are plenty of equally good options in the UK now. Get in touch if you’d like to find out more.

Education in the USA

Around one child in every ten attends private school in the US, a much smaller proportion of the population than the average across Europe. Some say the US state system focuses too much on preparing pupils for specific job roles. Which may be a short-sighted approach in a world where we might switch careers as often as we change jobs. Critics of the US state system prefer the private sector approach of producing innovative thinkers with transferable skills.

Interestingly, the balance flips after age 18, with US universities often offering more freedom and flexibility than some of their European counterparts. Although undergraduates in the US identify a field of interest when they apply, most degree programmes include general education courses, giving students a chance to explore different fields before specialising. It means US degrees are generally four years long instead of the typical three-year degree in the UK.

For more insights into the best university education for your child, get in touch for a no-obligation chat.

Feeling festive?

Here’s our selection of things to do in London, to put you in the Christmas spirit.

Christmas lights night-time tours of London
Experience London lit up on these guided tours. Choose your classic London vehicle: a restored vintage bus, open-top double-decker or a black cab (London taxi). Find out more and book.

Nutcracker ballet

Experience all the magic of this Christmas story set to Tchaikovsky’s famous score at the London Coliseum this winter as over 100 dancers and musicians from the English National Ballet bring the Nutcracker to life. Book now.

Ice skating

Outdoor ice rinks at London landmarks are a great way to feel festive in the capital. Choose from Hampton Court Palace (former home of King Henry VIII), Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, the stunning neo-classical Somerset House, Queen’s House ice rink in Greenwich, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Or try the rooftop rink Skylight (stunning views over the city), new Battersea Power Station’s rink ‘Glide’ or Westfield shopping centre’s ice rink at its Winter Village. See dates and more details.

It’s Pantomime time

Oh yes it is! Join the bizarre British tradition of heckling the villain, dame and hero / heroine in a fabulously festive take on fairy tales rich in song, spectacle and special effects! You might even see your favourite TV personalities take to the stage. Read more about  the history of pantomime here and check out your local London shows, including pantomimes, festive musicals, Christmas and children’s classics here.

Have a wonderful Christmas and we’ll be back in touch next year.