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David Cameron suffered a major blow today on the eve of the Conservative Party conference as Britain's most prestigious private schools condemned his flagship education reforms.
The Tories have promised independent schools, private companies and parents state funds to run thousands of “new academies” in a scheme based on the Swedish system.
But the “unrealistic” plan will fail to deliver higher standards of education, according to Andrew Grant, the new chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference of elite fee-paying schools.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, Mr Grant said the Conservatives offered little more than a “less well funded” version of Labour's existing policies.
“I cannot think that the Swedish model that they are attracted to is going to be achievable on anything like the scale to transform secondary education in this country,” he said. “It is not going to be the silver bullet.”
Mr Grant, headmaster of St Albans School, was speaking ahead of next week's Tory conference in Manchester.
The criticism is especially damaging because it comes from the 140-year-old association representing many of the famous private schools which front-bench Tories themselves attended.
Mr Cameron went to Eton, shadow chancellor George Osborne attended St Paul's School in Barnes, while shadow education secretary Michael Gove was sent to Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen. All three schools are members of HMC.
Mr Grant said the Tories were “embarrassed” to endorse independent schools too strongly in public. He called on the party to be far more radical.
Parents should be given state funding “vouchers” which they could put towards the cost of independent school fees, he said. And schools should be free to charge fees, make a profit and select the brightest pupils.
“The big sticking point in the party's approach is that selection is ruled out and fees are ruled out,” he said.
“We have talked to Michael Gove about this and he would be perfectly happy with an independent school currently in HMC becoming one of his new academies' provided it does not charge fees, and provided it ceases to be selective.
“Rather like Tony Blair in his introduction of academies, the DNA' they wish to borrow from our sector stops short of two of the key elements.
“I can't really see how Michael Gove's ideas are going to give us anything very different from (Labour's existing) academies, but rather less well funded.” The next government should reinstate the assisted places scheme, paying for bright state pupils to attend top independent schools, he said.
While the Tories gather in Manchester, the heads of the HMC's 250 schools will hold their annual meeting in Liverpool but Mr Grant expects the Tories to keep their distance.
A Conservative spokesman said: “Our reform will empower parents to get what they want in the state sector — more rigorous teaching, smaller schools and smaller class sizes.”
Reader views (3)
I was employed as an Assistant Caretaker/Supervisor cleaner in a school. I resigned from the school June 2009. Many schools have become like corporations, money is spent on the front education display windows, for Parents to look at, and they view and hopefully are impressed by what they see. The more buyers, “Parents” they enticed the increase in revenue £s the school receive. “Image is everything”! If the Conservatives win next year they want to empower heads of schools. I have experienced rooms fit for business executives, staff toilets equipped like 3-4* hotels. But the children’s toilets are cleaned once a day hopefully and badly maintained. The school I was employed spent £360 for 3 bins because of the corporation colour, when I asked for new toilet seats they had no money, this is only one example of many. I am not political; health & safety regulations differ between adults and children, it concerns me greatly that a party wishes to empower schools. Schools don’t need to be empowered, but instead strictly regulated by independent bodies. Ofsted should do surprise visits, observing teaching, looking at the environment, making sure that the children act has been enforced “The Children act was revised 2004 and the main principle was the need of the child is paramount, 5 key elements of every child matters (2003) be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, achieve economic well-being.
- R Carter, newport
I have felt all along that Cameron and the Tories are all talk and no substance. If the British electorate make the mistake of voting for him at the next election, they will see a lot more of this hotair, unrealistic nonsense. I know Gordon Brown and New Labour are taking a lot of stick right now, but I will still be sticking with them for a few more years. And if The Sun doesn´t like it, well, tough!
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
This could lose the Tories a few votes. I think many people disillusioned with Labour over the Afghan conflict and who were looking to vote Tory will be out off.
- Andy, London
