State schools should be run by private firms for profit, says LGA chief Sir Simon Milton

Private companies should be allowed to run state schools for a profit, the head of the Local Government Association (LGA) said last night.

Sir Simon Milton, a senior Tory, also argued that they should be free to sack teachers who are not up to the job.

He added that companies should be able to maximise their earnings by hiring out the school buildings and grounds during holidays.

Sir Simon, who also advises the Mayor of London on planning and housing, said that councils should only have the power to build new schools and monitor their performance.

Private companies should be in charge of running the institutions, he believes.

'My view, and the LGA's view, is that councils are not meant to be running schools any more,' he said.

'The future is to have different types of school to ensure parental choice.'

Sir Simon also said schools should open their doors during holidays.

He told The Times, 'We have very expensive community assets called schools, sitting at the end of the road, which are closed in the summer. We need to incentivise schools and governing bodies to make their facilities more widely available.'

Although his outspoken views will not have direct influence on Government plans, he has put pressure on David Cameron to change his official education policy, which states that profit-making should not be allowed in state education.

Sir Simon's comments have drawn criticism from shadow education secretary Michael Gove and teachers' unions.

Mr Gove said, 'The money we spend on education should stay within education.'

He said more private firms should be allowed to run state schools - but only on condition they recycled excess cash back into those institutions.

Sir Simon wants to make school facilities 'more widely available' during the summer holidays

Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, said, 'Sir Simon’s comments suggested that the sector would face massive upheaval under a Tory government.

'State education is about social justice and protecting the weak, vulnerable and disadvantaged. If you make all that subject to profits, you will be throwing the public service ethos out of the window.'