I thnk that all schools should be independent, but I'm not convince by jamie Whyte's argument. In some areas (e.g. rural areas) there may be only one school and it is better that this is a locally owned charity or trust than a monopoly private supplier.

Also not that John Lewis/Waitrose is effectively a charity that distributes its surplus to its workers - and they were recentlyvoted the country's favourite retailer. It is enoughthat they exist with a competitive environment, where customers have a choice.

HJ, Reading, UK

Railway lines are owned by the state.
Postal system is owned by the state.
London Underground is owned by the state.

Not really "examples of great privatisation" then?

Neil, Herts,

There is debate about how private schools can demonstrate their contribution to the public good, in order to justify their charitable status. When an institution provides a service that would otherwise have to be paid for by the state, surely one major contribution to the public good is the reduction in overall tax burden that results from the reduction in the state's obligations.

Andrew, Farnham, UK

Andrew Partridge, FARNHAM, UK

Celia Green has said it all before. And better.

Fabian Tassano, Oxford, UK

Hugh the postal service is not private it is still in government hands, when competition from other postal services appear on our streets in the not too distant future Royal Mail will have to pull their socks up or go bust due to lack of customers, this is where competition and private enterprise trounce government run organizations everytime! Except where government needs to be involved ie defence, armed forces and policing, courts and security. Totally agree with the article privatise all schools would probably be the best solution, and let US choose where we send our kids.

Tom, London, UK

The removal of charitable status may have the unintended consequence to make private education cheaper. For-profit companies will now be able to complete against the current independent schools and drive prices down. This will increase demand and expand the sector.
Private equity buy-out of Eton? It may happen.

Kit, London, England

No, supermarkets, factories etc. wouldn't do better if they were charities because their aim is profit and they have to compete. This doesn't mean that they don't provide an excellent service but it does mean that they can -and do -readily close any non-profitable branch or service. This just cannot be done with the basic necessities of large-scale transport, health, education and social services which, by their very nature, have to be chiefly under government control.
To have independent players in all these areas is admirable and should provide a innovative stimulus to the government but, again, if they don't break even they close, as some independent schools have done recently. I fail to see why independent schools should be charities. They should be run like any other business- no more and no less. As for the Provost of Eton's remarks - where was he in the recent fee-fixing scandal? And all schools want to do the best for their pupils, not just those with charitable status.

Ann Keith, Cambridge, uk

He's so right. Just look to the trains system, the postal service and the underground for examples of great privatisation.

Trains ridiculously outdated lines.
Postal system is dreadful.
Underground most expensive in europe.

Hugh, london, Uk