I heard a debate yesterday on the radio about the existence of private schools, featuring a couple of MP's, a spokesman for the Independent Schools Council, a lobbyist against private education.

Basically they were arguing whether parental rights to choose a private education is more important than the impact the existence of such a system may have on the vast majority of children in this country (ie you take out many talented pupils from the state system and take out a lot of parents who are actually interested in education).

Responses were predictable enough apart from the Lib Dem MP who thought that private schools should be allowed to exist but that they were failing in their societal responsibilities (primarily by not sharing their facilities).

What is more important to you, choice and freedom to go outside the state system, or a potential levelling of the playing field in terms of educational opportunities?