Schools

After dropping CyclopsJnr off each day I see this view of Fettes College on my way home.  This is the main building, at the heart of a campus that is isolated from the community it sits in by impenetrable fences, hedges and trees.  The compound is half a kilometre on each side and filled with open space - on expensive real estate in the heart of Edinburgh.  Most of the senior school pupils board, and there are four grand boarding houses on the grounds.  It has an excellent reputation as a school (not least having given the UK a Prime Minister in Tony Blair), but every morning as I pass I ask myself whether education in such an isolated and rarefied environment is a step too far in a society already plagued by growing inequality.  
 
MrsCyclops and I both went to our local primary schools, but CyclopsJnr goes to an independent primary school.  He'd go to the local school if we could get him in, but as a result of a slightly bizarre drawing of boundary lines the school we're in catchment for comes last in the league table of Edinburgh primary schools.  That isn't really the start in life I want for my boy.  CyclopsJnr's school is very nice, and quite similar to the primary school I went to, from what I can feel of the atmosphere or from what I see of the buildings.  He has slightly more access to specialist teachers (for Science and French) than I did, and his uniform is like the one I had at primary school, although most schools now have moved away from the blazar and tie he wears to polos and sweatshirts.
 
I went to a independent secondary school, and it did have a nice old building but so did many schools in my city, so it didn't feel particularly special.  It was nothing like as grand as Fettes.  The secondary school CyclopsJnr will go unless something happens and we need to change school is similar to mine.  His school won't look much like this...
 
I'm not going to deny our privilege in having choices about schools, but even within privilege there are degrees, and Fettes definitely feels like a step (or two) too far.  I imagine there are others who feel the same about our choice of school for our son though.

Politically I believe all schools should be properly funded, and that regardless of which postcode you live in the local school could properly cater for a full range of educational needs, and ensure that every child reaches their full potential.  That feels a long way off at the moment though.

Maybe I should change my route home so I don't have to think about this every morning.  On the other hand, it's a nice view and I'm not getting out much…

Maybe I'm overthinking this...