Quite a shame how people respond

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I believe you are confusing public school with private school.

Is there a difference?

*off topic* Actually public and private in the UK are somewhat the same.

A public comprehensive is the standard state school, but a public self-funded school is different (relies on funds).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_school_(England)

'The' public schools in England and Scotland (Eton, Rugby and so on) were originally known as public schools becuase of their non-affiliation to religious or class heirarchies back in the years when that was most important for school applications. The top schools were completely indepdent of state control (listed in the article), but are still fee paying.

Private schools in the UK are effectively the same thing but do not have the same status as the leading public schools (again, Eton, Harrow and so on). They are still fee-paying and completely independent of state control.

Dawkins attended a fee-paying (minor/ private) public school called Oundle in Northhamptonshire.

IMHO, to achieve the best in education for poorer students, they should bring back more grammar schools. I'm from a poor East London background but attended one of the oldest grammar schools in the country (for free). They're great for social mobility because they rely more on the child's abilities and not the parent's pockets. 50% of the kids in my year came from very poor backgrounds in inner city Birmingham.

*on-topic* FWIW, I actually saw Dawkins a couple of times in the Oxford debating hall whilst I was there, and he always came across as eloquent if not a bit 'hostile' sometimes. I will say that he doesn't suffer fools gladly (to put it in such terms), but really, none of the staff at Oxford do. You're there to do the best you can and work 24/7 to advance research, and you don't get to the top of your field by being 'nice' to everyone. Not saying I agree with that, it's just the reality of the place and every other top academic institution. Cut throat, even through collaboration.