Constance Watson

Pssst… wanna get your kid into Eton?

<em>An army of fixers offer to smooth the path to any top school... for an eye-watering price, by Constance Watson</em>

issue 19 March 2017

British education has never been so competitive. Our system, particularly the private sector, is a constant source of fascination and is renowned the world over — even though it educates only 7 per cent of UK children. But the current competition for places has borne a new industry, usually labelled ‘education consultancy.’ Consider education consultants the Robin to the private sector’s Batman. The Yoko to Eton’s John or the Sonny to Cheltenham Ladies’ Cher.

Are you keen for your son or daughter to get into one of the best prep schools in the land? Do you toss and turn in torment each night at the infinite options? If so, you are vulnerable to these education consultants, who can quell your fears and fast-track your little darlings to the best education that money can buy.

How has this come to be? A few generations ago, all you needed was a big brain and a fairly large wallet to gain entry to even the more prestigious private schools.

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