From: Bob W
We have private schools, public schools, grant-maintained schools, state-funded religious schools, privately-funded religious schools, city academies, 6th-form colleges, private tutors, community colleges, reform schools, schools of art, technical schools, schools of dolphins, seminaries, madrassas and football academies.
Which of the schools on that list would be the equivalent of U.S. "public schools"? Here in the U.S., local governments - city, town, county, ... - pay for (theoretically) free, tax supported, "public schools" for ALL children. The main tax funding for these schools comes from the state, but local jurisdiction taxes supplement this and the state money is to the local jurisdiction based on a per pupil basis. The local school system has most of the control over how the money is divided between salaries, supplies and physical plant, although the state can mandate the local system must pay for certain programs (usually because some court has ruled the state must provide the service of that program). Attendance by "school age" children is compulsory, although there are exceptions allowing for private schooling, be it church run academies, home schools, or Montessori, etc. "School age" is from Kindergarten (age 5) until you graduate from high school (grade 12) or reach your 16th birthday. Generally "private" schools are not eligible for taxpayer funding, except that North Carolina provides funds for "Pre-K" education of 4 year olds. Many of those early childhood education programs are hosted by private institutions, including churches. Some other states have other exceptions. I think New York state funds school lunches at religious schools.
They are run by boards of governors, bursars, parent-teacher associations, local authorities, central government, the Football Association, Opus Dei, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rabbi Lionel Blue, Tony Blair's creationist chums, and Abu Hamza. There are four national curricula. External examinations are set by the Joint Matriculation Board, Oxford University, Cambridge University, McDonalds university, AQA, OCR, CIE, edexcel, CCEA, Lord David Beckham VC, ICAAE, WJEC and Sue Perkins. Internal examinations are conducted by the Catholic priesthood, and Sir James Savile (deceased). The examination boards are themselves examined by OFWAT, Ofsted, Father Ted, and half a kilo of kumquats. Each of these is overseen by the Secretary of State for education, who in turn is responsible to the Bullingdon Club, who answer to no-one. It's no wonder we're all so feckin' intelligent. Dr. Prof. Bob, MA, D. Phil., STD, Milk Marketing board (Hon.)
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