UK Education Leads Approval Ratings

It may surprise some British readers, but British adults are more likely to feel positively about their country's state education system than Spanish or German adults. Harris Interactive surveyed consumers following the recent debate on education in the UK.

The survey suggests that 42% of British adults feel positively towards education provided by the state, rating standards as either good, very good or extremely good. In comparison, adults across both Spain and Germany are significantly less positive towards their own state education systems. Only 31% of Spanish adults and 22% of German adults perceive standards of state provided education to be good, very good or extremely good. About half (49%) of German adults perceive education standards in their country to be poor, above Spain's 43% and significantly higher than in Britain (29%).

British parents with children in state-provided education are also significantly more satisfied with the choice of schools available to them than in either Spain or Germany. More than half (54%) of British parents are satisfied, compared to 42% of German parents and only 38% of Spanish parents.

However, there is still no doubt that there is room for improvement in the UK, as a substantial minority of parents in Britain (32%) are dissatisfied with the choice of schools available to them, with nearly one in five parents (18%) believing there are no good schools in their area.

Despite this, the majority of British parents are satisfied with the standards of education at their child's school (64%). Again, this is far higher than Spain where only 44% of parents are satisfied, or Germany where only 36% parents are satisfied with standards in their own child's school.

In consequence, well over half of British parents (59%) agree that their child will be able to reach their potential at their current school, significantly more than Spanish (47%) or German (38%) parents. One in four British parents (26%) are dissatisfied with the standard of education their child receives, and a third (33%) believe their child will not be able to reach his/her potential.

Across Britain, Spain and Germany significant proportions of parents would like to see more discipline in their child's school with 44% of British parents, 38% of German parents and 35% of Spanish parents agreeing with the statement 'There is not enough discipline at my child's school.'

Despite receiving a difficult time in Parliament, recent legislative proposals may be positively received by British parents, since 32% of those with children at state schools want to be more involved in the running of their child's school. However, this is far fewer than in either Spain or Germany where 51% of parents would like to be more involved in the running of their child's school. This finding may be reflective of their respective levels of satisfaction with education standards.

The government still has its work cut out in raising awareness of their proposed changes to the education system, with about half (49%) of UK adults aware of the proposals. Furthermore, of those who are aware, only 22% believe that these proposals will have any positive impact.

Rating Of State School Standards

'What is your opinion of the standards of education at state provided schools (primary and secondary) in your country?'

Base: All Adults

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Harris Interactive conducted the online survey from 16 February to 6 March 2006 among 2,114 adults aged 16 and over in Great Britain, 1,136 in Spain and 1,309 in Germany using its Harris Poll Global Omnibus. Data were weighted to be representative of the general adult population in each country with respect to age, sex, income, education, geographic location and propensity to be online.

Harris Interactive is online at www.harrisinteractive.com

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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