The parents who went private

Paul and Wendy Joyce can calculate how much the failure in London schools has cost them - about £150,000.

That is what it has cost to send two boys to fee-paying Dulwich College, after rejecting state schools in Southwark.

The disillusionment set in for the Joyces when they were visiting local primary schools which, they said, appeared more interested in teaching sexism than the 3Rs. Their dissatisfaction was reinforced by the poor disciplinary and academic record of local secondary schools.

The only alternative they considered for Sam, 16 and Nathan, 19, was St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School in Orpington. Mrs Joyce, who works in publishing, said: "In the end we decided against it because it was too far away.

"It is appalling that there aren't good state schools in London. It means people have to choose between paying fees and accepting the effect on their lifestyle, or moving. If they can't do any of those, they are stuck. This government isn't improving education in London any more than it is improving London transport."

Mr Joyce, a film-maker who made a broadcast for former Labour leader John Smith, said: "He told us we should move to Scotland because they had a better system there. You find yourself throwing your principles reluctantly aside because the interests of your children are paramount."