UK Institutions Accused of Discriminating Against Private School Students with Tiered Pricing

Several prominent UK cultural and educational institutions, including Shakespeare's Globe and the National Space Academy, are facing accusations of discriminating against students from private schools through tiered pricing and exclusionary practices for educational programs.

Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London charges state school pupils £12 per student, while "other" schools, a category that typically includes private institutions, are charged £14. The National Space Academy offers a "masterclass" for £850, but provides a discounted rate of £650 to state schools and charities. These differential charges for educational visits and workshops have drawn criticism for potentially exacerbating inequality.

Further scrutiny has been directed at the Bank of England, where students from private schools were reportedly excluded from educational presentations. The Bank stated this was due to a perception that private school students "already see" an interest in economics compared to their state school counterparts and cited limited budget constraints.

The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration also employs a tiered pricing model, charging state schools £400 per day for classes, while independent schools are charged £575.

These practices echo similar accusations made against the Royal Shakespeare Company last year, which was criticized for charging private school students more than state schoolchildren for theatre visits. Tony Perry, chairman of the campaign group Education Not Taxation, expressed disappointment, stating that such policies discriminate against children based on their school type. He argued that this approach does not reduce inequality and can unfairly penalize students from lower-income families who attend independent schools on bursaries.

Richard Jones, head of Bryanston School, commented last year on the Royal Shakespeare Company's pricing, calling the premium for independent school children "discrimination" and asserting that the arts should unite, not divide, children.

The National Space Academy attributed its discounts to state schools to stipulations from its grant funders. Representatives from Shakespeare's Globe, the Bank of England, the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, and the National Space Academy were contacted for comment regarding these accusations.