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The article reports on private schools in Great Britain, whose costs are climbing along with their prestige. Although only a small percentage of British school children attend private versus public schools, most of the social elite have attended them, and the article attempts to quantify the return on parents' investment.

The article presents British bookstore chain owner Tim Waterstone's recollections of his schooling and favorite teacher. He attended Tonbridge, which he describes as a minor public school, though he qualifies that by noting inspirational teachers. He recalls the school chaplain's wife, Mrs. Austin, who tutored students in English. He credits her with kindness but also with opening his imagination, inspiring him to analyze stories, and introducing him to authors he might not otherwise have read.

The article reports that headteachers from Britain's private schools should be sent into state-sponsored schools to help them improve, according to a report. The recommendation came from a report sent to education ministers. The venture would be part of the Independent State School Partnership, which was created in 1998 to foster cooperation between government and privately-funded schools. Private schools should also be given funding to help them partner with state schools in specific subject areas.

The author provides his view that while the government of Great Britain has set targets for the number of school nurses that would cover every English secondary school and its neighboring primaries, the Department of Health has not provided the necessary means of achieving the targets. The author reviews the increased responsibilities of school nurses and concludes that unless sanctions accompany noncompliance, the targets will not be met and children will be put at risk.