I prefer private edu to having a new car, holidays or new clothes. However don't be misguided - private edu is not better,. it is just that the most children in these schools also have out-of-hours tutors. So the real cost of private edu is much higher. Private schools are just as cr*p as state.

H, London,

schools should reflect modern society and be open all weeks of the year bar 4 - everyone else has c. 20 days holiday per year - why not teachers. they can bulk up the curreiculum with sports, art, music etc etc. This woudl help families where both parents work, or single parent families like mine.

H, London,

Please remember, these figures are based on the 2007-8 school year, and the decisions were made by parents long before the credit crunch.

The 2008-9 figures will be very interesting indeed.

Ian Tinn, Slough, England

i went to a state school in the US and the difference is that there is such an emphasis on extracurricular activities that kids don't have time to get into trouble. i had 15-20 hours of sport a week and this is standard for an american high school thus why the yob culture does not exist there.

Alex, London, England

It is unfortunate that so many parents feel the need to keep their children out of the state sector. The costs of private education are indeed considerable; but so to are the rewards for the children. There are, of course, some good state schools too.

Des, Edinburgh,

Well done, Clare, Edinburgh. You were obviously bright and focussed enough to overcome the handicap of a state education. I expect that your 'immediate' peer group will also have achieved high grades. Others that you may have 'known' will probably not have managed to survive as well as you.

Alan, Honiton, UK

So who is going to staff the hospitals and the nursing homes, who is going to run the country while these people who chose to remain childless live out their retirement? Alison

Easy. Immigrants or Eastern-European wage slaves will look after me as an OAP while you pay for any children you have. OK?

Jason Mead, Bristol, England

Dear Jason Mead, Bristol, England,

So who is going to staff the hospitals and the nursing homes, who is going to run the country while these people who chose to remain childless live out their retirement? We all benefit from the education of the next generation and should all contribute to it.

Alison, Peterborough,

Parents pay around £22,000 a year or higher to send their children to a private school. But due to the drop in literacy over the course of this decade, many parents are in reality pouring money to the schools, and their sons/daughters achievement might not be maximum.

James, Surbiton, UK

Normal working hours don't work with state schools, let alone long one - a 5 year old is only at school 9 -3! I have to sort out how to support a 9 -12 day for 6 whole weeks this Sept. And no doubt holidays, inset days and strike days too. Schools organise purely for their convenience.

S Lawrence, St Albans , Herts

This is fantastic news because all schools, in theory, should be private schools.

It should be the responsibility of the parent who has chosen to have the child to pay and provide for their education - not childless taxpayers or those responsible parents who do pay for private schools.

Jason Mead, Bristol, England

Tom from Reigate: I went to a state school and yet I got A*s in 'proper' subjects; and I somehow manage not to squander my days 'drinking Strongbow in the park', having got a degree from Edinburgh university and a great job.

Clare, Edinburgh,

This is fantastic news because all schools, in theory, should be private schools.

It should be the responsibility of the parent who has chosen to have the child to pay and provide for their education - not childless taxpayers or those responsible parents who do pay for private schools.

Jason Mead, Bristol, England

I pay £26,000 a year to Educate my girls privately. Of course I can't afford it.

My eldest will be getting 10 A*s in proper subjects. She's a bright girl and without the challenges she's been given she might well be one of the teenagers drinking StrongBow in the park.

Tom, Reigate,

"Longer working hours, commuting and the rising costs of formal childcare have persuaded more parents to turn to independent schools "

Silly me. I thought it was simply the need to avoid the politicised - and rubbish - state educational system

Mike Bibby, St Albans, England -not EU

Any one who wants the best for their children would like to send them to private schools. Problem is that most cannot afford it. It just goes to show this Gov up for what it is. Another failure to meet Manifesto promises. This Gov will only be remembered for its failure to keep its promises.

M. Cawdery, Portadown, Co. UK, EU.

If parents have any concern for their children they would all want yo select private schools for their offspring. The problem is that most cannot afford the fees.
However, it does show that Nulab has disastrously failed to implement efficiently their Manifesto promise. "So What" Balls

M. Cawdery, Portadown, Co. UK, EU.

Although it was a huge sacrifice to educate my boys privately, it was truly worth every penny! I am just so sorry for those who do not have a choice as they are unable to afford it. The state system is now ruled by a small minority of badly behaved children who spoil everyone else's chances.

Susie, Wallingford, UK

I have paid for 3 children to go private school I pay for Bupa and Denplan I think we should get some money back from the council after all look what I have saved them in fees!
julie Gask

julie Gask, hampshire, England

I can't think of anything a fee paying school could have given my boys that they didn't get at their state school - top exam grades, extracurricula activities, the oldest heading to a year's placement with a leading company before Cambridge.

Diana, derby,

Why do people bother having children if they're going to 'outsource' their whole lives to a boarding school?

Susan Taylor, leeds, u

I was educated at a girls' grammar school. I teach in the state sector. I nearly bankrupted myself to put my two boys through private schools. Need I say more?

Barbara Ashby, Oxfordshire, UK

I am not suprised. I would do anything to keep my children in private schools. And I also think that parents who choose private education should get money back from their council. Why should we pay for the place in local school which our children never use?!!

Daria, Ripon,

Who can blame parents. I would not send kids to a state school these days!

Arthur, Newcastle,