so a private school is at fault for trying to raise the standards of our education system so that our kids at least have a shot at competing on the world stage?

Our kids don't compete for jobs with the kid in the next desk to them anymore - they're now competing with other kids for the same jobs and uni places from all over the world.

Dunno about you - but I do expect that my kids get a comparable education to those from other countries. Can't see why that's a bad thing - hopefully it will shame our gov into raising their expectations and standards instead of continually dumbing down the curriculum.

On a per student ration, private schools are funded to 3 times the amount that a public school is funded. This was a 2010 statistic so it is probably slightly more now.

That means that for each dollar invested in a child in the public system, $3 is invested in a child in the public system.

and as for that bit - you haven't taken into account the fact that the private schools have to build their own buildings and buy their own equipment for their pupils or the fact that they also already pay for a spot in the public system which they DONT USE - so you need to use all the data - not just the hand picked bits that sup[port your opinion, cos I'm willing to bet you all the money in my pocket that those statistics are biased and do NOT take into consideration the fact that the gov has already supplied the buildings and equipment etc so not counted as part of the funding.

The bottom line is - without a private education system - hardly any of our kids will get an education - or at least one of any value.

If the education system is so poor in the state system (and I don't believe it is) then it's time that someone stepped up to the plate and raised the standards - not try to pull down those who are already aiming higher.