State pupils 'enjoy school'

Most state school pupils are pleased with their education, a survey says

The vast majority of state-school pupils are happy with their education, a survey suggests.

A Mori poll for the Sutton Trust - an education charity - showed 80% of 11 to 16 year olds in comprehensives thought they were either excellent, good or fairly good.

Two-thirds of pupils in England and Wales said they enjoyed school most of the time, while 5% said they always did so.

Margaret Tulloch, of the Campaign for State Education, said: "It's encouraging to hear young people speaking up for state education.

"Perhaps it might encourage ministers to do it more often."

'Vote of confidence'

But almost a quarter of state pupils did not enjoy school either most or all of the time.

Those who said they would go private if possible cited smaller classes, better equipment and the likelihood of achieving better exam results.

But more than two-thirds of those who wanted to stay in the state sector said they would not enjoy going to a fee-paying school, fearing ridicule and alienation.

John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, said: "This vote of confidence, from an age group considered to be the most difficult, must give all those who have campaigned for effective, comprehensive state education a real boost.

"It's a confirmation of what everyone has felt but the fact that the kids themselves, the people who are absolutely at the centre of the whole thing, are saying this shows that, despite all the experiments with privatisation and invidious comparisons with private schools, state schools are a success."

'Some still disaffected'

Sutton Trust chairman Peter Lampl, who was funded schemes to help youngsters from deprived backgrounds go to university, said he was particularly encouraged that more pupils wanted to enter higher education - up from 68% last year to 71%.

He said: "We were most encouraged by the fact that even more students in this age group are expecting to go to university, which is good news for the government in terms of their target to increase the proportion going into higher education to 50%.

"However, despite this, still too many students fall by the wayside and leave school at 16 and do not go on to university at 18.

"Students disaffected by their schooling in this critical age group are therefore in a minority but we must guard against complacency and take seriously their views that lessons need to be more interesting, and that more practical or vocational subjects should be provided."

His comments echoed those of David Bell, chief inspector of schools watchdog Ofsted last week.

Mr Bell warned the government that they could not ignore the 16 year olds who left school with no qualifications and did not go into either training or employment.

Ofsted is due to publish a report on Tuesday, which is expected to highlight this problem.