Private Schools - Perhaps we already have the answer
Rather than just bashing private schools (not that many don't deserve it) as Labour now appears to be advocating, why not take a lead from the remarks of the Head of King's College School, Wimbledon that many local professionals cannot afford to educate their children privately any more?
If these people send their children to state schools I can see standards improving, if that is really what people want. If we can spend more money it should be concentrated at primary level to ensure that children entering secondary education are reasonably literate and numerate. It's the early years that really set the foundation for success later and don't forget also that hungry children find it more difficult to learn. Perhaps the Jesuits had a point when they said: " Give me a child for his first seven years and I'll give you the man. "