What Are The Differences Between Private & State Schools?

The main and most obvious difference between private and state schools is how they are funded. Private schools are largely financed by the educational fees paid to the school whereas state schools are financed by the government.

In Glasgow, parents have many options for both state and private schools, with Scotland in general held in high regard for its educational output.
 

Historical Terminology

It can be confusing to differentiate between the UK state, grammar and private school education systems.

Historically in Continental Europe, schools were originally church establishments that educated and trained scholars bound for the clergy. Children not bound for a life within the clergy were tutored privately and ordinarily didn’t go to ‘school’ (because ‘school’ was for future clerics).

Over time, this changed and the Church eventually admitted pupils from 'the public'. The British usage of the phrase 'public school' to mean a private, fee-paying school originated from these historical developments. In England, you may still hear people referring to ‘Public Schools’ as private.
 

Private Schools Explained

Private day schools and boarding schools (where pupils effectively live on campus) generate autonomous funding through different sources, such as tuition fees, private grants and endowments. Let’s look at the types of schools available for those seeking private tuition for their children. 
 

Boarding Schools

Boarding schools remain a popular choice with those seeking private education for their children, for several reasons. 

By their very nature, boarding schools enable their pupils to focus more closely on their academic studies, affording them full immersion in school life, away from the distractions of everyday life. 

This experience not only benefits grades but also the social resilience of the pupils, as increased exposure to new social structures enables pupils who may have been reserved at home to become more confident as they express themselves in new contexts. 
 

Day Schools 

Day schools offer an educational experience more akin to state schools than a boarding setup, but still provide many of the same benefits, particularly in terms of pupil excellence. 

Pupils can also reap the benefits of private education when they enter the workforce. Indeed, a study has found that pupils from private schools are more likely to enter high-status roles. 
 

State Schools Explained

Maintained state schools are overseen by the local authority/council bodies. State schools must follow the national curriculum and adhere to national pay and conditions for teachers.

There are several types of state schools, which include…
 

Grammar Schools 

Grammar schools are state secondary schools that select their pupils through an examination taken by children at age 11, known as the '11+'. 

There are only about 163 grammar schools in England, out of some 3,000 state secondaries and a further 69 grammar schools in Northern Ireland.

With such stringent entry requirements, pupils are held to the highest standard possible through a strong focus on academia.

While there have been grammar schools in Scotland in the past, any that still operate under this title do so in name only. While they may require some form of entry assessment, they are not funded by the state and do not require the 11+ exam. 
 

Academies 

Examining academies, the distinction between a high school and an academy is more nuanced. 

In England, where state schools such as high schools are funded by local councils, academies are funded by the UK government through an academy trust. Additionally, these trusts can influence the academy’s curriculum and term times, depending on the school's needs. 

If a school is performing poorly, as judged by Ofsted, it will likely be reformed as an academy, allowing an academy trust to play an active role in improving its performance. 

In Scotland, while you will still find academies, this name is more likely to be a stylistic choice, with instances of both private and state schools carrying the title. 
 

Faith Schools 

As the name suggests, a faith school is a school centred around a particular religion or ethos and while there are some examples of private faith schools, many are state-run. 

While the majority of faith schools are required to teach the national curriculum, religious education may be taught slightly differently to reflect the specific interests of the faith school in question. 

Although each faith school will have its own unique admission policies, those who aren’t of that faith may be considered for entry. However, preference is usually given to practising members of the given faith. 
 

Key Differences Between State & Private Schools

While schools of all kinds share certain traits and approaches, several key differences distinguish state and private schools from one another.
 

Funding & Fees 

The first and most apparent difference between state and private schools is the source of their funding. 
 

State Schools

State schools, as the name suggests, are funded by the state via taxes, allowing education to be freely accessible to all who need it. 
 

Private Schools

On the other hand, private schools receive funding from various sources. One of the primary sources of income is tuition fees, which will be used to fund everything from teacher salaries to facilities. 

Donations are another common source of income for private schools, which can be used to fund specific aspects of the school experience or to offset tuition fees. 

Should a family wish for their child to attend private school or should they become unable to pay tuition fees, alternative means of doing so are available. 

Proudly offered by The High School of Glasgow for over 40 years, bursaries are available for Senior School families facing financial hardship. Following a successful application, bursaries are used by the school to cover all or part of a pupil’s tuition fees. 
 

Admission Processes 

Admission processes between state schools and private schools also differ slightly. 
 

State Schools

In the UK, councils use ‘catchment areas’ to decipher where your child is given a place at a state school. This is usually an area around the school, with any child who lives in this area given a place at the school. 

This is designed to stop the admissions process from being a free-for-all, which largely works well; however, statistics have reported that just 82% of secondary school pupils were allocated their chosen school in 2018.
 

Private Schools 

While each private school will differ slightly in exact entry requirements, once you have chosen the ideal private school for your child, a series of entry processes take place. 

Following a visit and the submission of an application, your child must successfully undertake an entry assessment and interview to secure their place. 
 

Class Sizes & Resources  

When it comes to choosing between private and state schools, class size remains a significant factor. 
 

State Schools

At state schools, due to tighter budgets and government regulations, class sizes tend to be larger.

This larger size can ultimately mean less availability of certain resources such as specialised classrooms or physical education facilities; however, this can differ from school to school. This is usually balanced with experienced teachers and creative use of limited resources.
 

Private School 

Private schools, conversely, thanks to increased funding and more autonomy over class size, typically have fewer than 20 pupils per class. 

As one might expect, this creates an environment in which pupils can spend more time interacting with their teacher, while participating in group work in a more meaningful way. 

This also means that teachers can be more intentional when lesson planning, creating lessons that are better suited to the specific needs of their pupils. 
 

Curriculum Flexibility

Finally, we come to curricular output and, once again, there is notable variation between the approaches taken by private and state schools. 
 

State Schools 

Curricular flexibility is limited at state schools thanks to the mandated national curricula.

Designed to be a generally effective, one-size-fits-all solution, national curricula can be effective to a point, but they lack the benefits of a more tailored approach. 
 

Private Schools

In contrast, private school curricula are decided entirely by the school.

This means that while they can draw on cues from the national curriculum, they can also tailor it with their own additions to create an ideal educational experience, allowing teachers to do their best work and meet their pupils' needs as consistently as possible.
 

Public Opinion

The UK has one of the world's most highly renowned educational systems. Britain is respected for its comprehensive national curriculum and the large variety of academic institutions to choose from.

Looking more closely at Scotland, there are several ways to measure schools against one another, including facilities, class sizes and average grade results. The Sunday Times’ league table of schools, now in its 33rd year, is considered a trustworthy aggregator of quality. 

In 2024, The High School of Glasgow was ranked 5th in Scotland from a total of 2,000 schools.

While The High School has a strong reputation thanks to its 900 years of educational service, lists like this remain a clear indicator that the school is refusing to rest on its laurels, thanks to the excellent pass rates mentioned above.
 

School Life

Private schools tend to teach above levels of the standard curriculum and also frequently cater to a range of interests. Private schools also often offer an alternative curriculum that includes specialist subjects like art, drama, health and food technology etc.

More often than not, private schools also have smaller class sizes. This allows teachers to interact more with pupils which can improve class participation and an overall interest in learning. Private schools also generally offer a wider range of extra-curricular, sporting and cultural activities.

In addition to offering classes and after-school clubs that cater to a wide variety of interests and career aspirations, top private schools will provide a robust pastoral care system. In the case of The High School of Glasgow, this includes a prominent house system that enables pupils of all ages to connect with one another, building a sense of community within the school and its local area. 

If you’re interested in learning more about private education or the fee structure associated with The High School of Glasgow, then please get in touch with one of our admissions team here. Alternatively, you can download a prospectus here.