Helen: What’s the difference between state schools and private schools in the UK? First, Mr. Lenon explains, the main difference between private and state schools is money.

Yes, there are two differences between a private school and a state school. The most important one is that parents have to pay fees to go to a private school. Whereas a state school is free of charge.

A boarding school like Harrow is very expensive; the fees are ￡28,000 a year. It’s a lot of money.

But the other difference is that independent schools in this country are not obliged to follow the national state governed curriculum, or even to take the state examinations. So they have a much greater degree of freedom.

Helen: It’s true. I know some schools use the American high school system and there are also schools that offer European qualifications.

I can tell you that the pupils at these schools are treated just like pupils in every other school including the state schools in England. They are not pampered, very far from it, they are expected to behave well, to work hard; they are punished if they don’t.