Andy Neil wrote:
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My sons are in state primary school, the same I attended, where I had two incredibly inspirational teachers who encouraged my deep love of science astronomy and mathematics, beyond what I ever got at home, despite coming from a strong science background. Algebra at 9 years old ? The current school is doing well- it got in trouble for failing to push higher achievers and my 6 year old is now reading at 10 years plus thanks to the new emphasis. Which explains why I have to prise him from my keyboard these days.

After that I was privately educated, but in the UK the cost has risen way above the rate of inflation, to the point where even the lesser schools are charging in excess of 10,000 USD PA (X 2), rates which only medical and legal professionals can manage. So I have been carefully cultivating my old boy links to Bolton School - where Sir Ian Mckellan (AKA Gandalf) and Sir Harry Kroto (Nobel laureate chemistry - discoverer of C60) also went (a few years before me I hasten to add)....may be I can get a couple of scholarships. Teh thought of the state system here for secondary school is too horrifying to contemplate.

Steve