I have written a lengthy article looking at the attempt of the Labour Governments of 1964-70 to integrate Britain’s leading independent schools with the state-financed school system.

The piece is published in a peer-reviewed history journal, and is thus behind a paywall, but it can be accessed here: ‘The Public Schools Commission: “Impractical, Expensive and Harmful to Children”?’

I have cut-and-pasted the title, abstract and key words below. Do contact me if you are interested in the topic or have any thoughts on my conclusions.

(Apart from a few small edits, this article was written before the general election and before I started work as a Special Adviser. Academic journals tends to have quite long lead-in times because of the peer-review process.)

The Public Schools Commission: ‘Impractical, Expensive and Harmful to Children’?

Author: Nicholas Hillman

Abstract

In the mid-1960s, the Labour government established a Commission to devise the best way of integrating Britain’s elite independent schools with the state-financed school system. Despite—and because of—the left’s scepticism of private education, the Commission faced enormous obstacles and their solution of state-subsidised boarding places was seen as unworkable, unaffordable and unpopular. Government papers help to explain the various reasons why the Commission’s proposals were not implemented: in particular, the public schools were regarded as a low spending priority. The lack of reform is key to understanding the continuing importance of independent schools in the UK.

Keywords: Harold Wilson; Anthony Crosland; Margaret Thatcher; Public Schools; State Education