Reform MSP says she has 'no choice' but to send children to private school in England
Reform MSP removed her younger son and daughter from their state school in Scotland to send them over the border to a fee-paying secondary.
A Reform MSP has claimed Scottish education is so poor she had “no choice” but to send her younger children to school in England.
Senga Beresford gave a scathing critique of classroom standards in Dumfries and Galloway.
Ms Beresford, who has four children aged 13 to 32, removed her son and daughter from their state school in favour of a fee-paying secondary south of the border.
“It wasn't really a choice,” she said. “It felt like no choice.”
READ MORE:Scots universities in stark warning to Home Office over 'serious weaknesses' in student visa scheme
Ms Beresford’s children are 32, 25, 17 and 13.
She said her eldest child had an “excellent” state school education but the landscape had changed markedly by the time her now 25-year-old had left primary school.
The MSP’s youngest daughter was “learning nothing” and by P6 could not spell a four letter word.
Ms Beresford claims that when she raised the issue with the school she was told spelling was “not important any more”.
“Then I noticed she brought me home a story she had written, which I really couldn't read because the spelling was that bad,” Ms Beresford added.
“I'd went in and asked the teacher about it, and I said, ‘I'm quite concerned - you’ve gave her a big star and there's no corrections’.”
The response from the teacher, she says, was to say that red pen is no longer used in case it upsets children.
Other complaints included a lack of numeracy, disruptive pupils in the class and a lack of discipline.
“I felt my daughter deserved an education,” she added, “So I spoke to various different parents who were clients of mine and my husband, and they recommended this school that they are now at four years on.
“My daughter gets As in physics, so for a wee girl that couldn't spell a four letter word, they're doing pretty well.”
The journey to school is a two-hour round trip across the border to England.
Although it is a fee-paying school, Ms Beresford said its principles could - and should - be translated to Scottish state schools.
She said the English school insists on the fundamentals of spelling and maths, boundaries, consequences and no mobile phones.
Ms Beresford said Scotland’s education system was her motivation for running for Holyrood.
She acknowledges she is privileged to be able to afford a fee-paying education.
“Not everyone can do that but every child deserves a decent education,” she said.
“I speak to parents all the time and they are so frustrated. I get emails, I get messages, I get stopped in the street.”
She says some parents are concerned about “woke” sex education in schools and not being able to opt out.
The parliamentarian says she plans to push the Scottish government on standards in schools.
She believes Scottish education is missing “the simple things we used to have” like learning times tables.
“My kids have been in education for 27 years, so I've seen it first hand, and I can only use my own experience,” she said.
“I have to make sacrifices to pay for private school fees but it’s the best money I have ever spent.
READ MORE:A barely audible 'guilty' marks the pinnacle of the Peter Murrell drama that has dogged the SNP
“There's no way I'd remove them unless our education grew again to what it once was.”
A council spokesman said the local authority respects parents’ rights to make decisions about their child’s education.
However, he added: “It is important to set this within the wider picture across Dumfries and Galloway schools.
“We continue to focus strongly on improving outcomes for all learners and there is sustained evidence of improvement in standards, attainment, and the quality of teaching.”
He said council schools do have a “clear and ongoing emphasis on literacy and numeracy”.
“Our schools operate within national guidance that promotes high expectations of positive behaviour and inclusive learning environments,” the spokesman added.
“Staff work hard every day to support pupils and maintain a positive and purposeful classroom experience.
“We know there is always more to do, and we remain committed to working with schools, families and partners to continue improving the quality of education across Dumfries and Galloway.”
Cabinet Secretary for Education Màiri McAllan said it was “simply untrue” that school standards are falling.
“I appreciate and respect the efforts of Scotland’s hard-working teachers while focused on driving further progress in our schools,” Ms McAllan said.
“That’s why I announced plans for phone free classrooms and it’s why I will deliver a new deal for our education workforce, ensuring teaching remains an attractive and rewarding career.”
Ms Beresford gained attention during the Holyrood election campaign when it was revealed she had sent a message to far right activist Tommy Robinson on social media in July 2024 saying: “Behind you all the way,” after he posted about “setting up in Trafalgar Square for the biggest patriotic rally the UK has ever seen”.
She also faced accusations from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar that separate social media messages show Ms Beresford “wants to deport my children”.
Reform has strenuously rejected the claim.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.