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| Ofsted chief criticises independent schools' lack of help for state schools | Ofsted chief criticises independent schools' lack of help for state schools |
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| Independent schools should lose their charitable status unless they volunteer to run state academies, the UK’s chief schools inspector has said, warning that the reluctance of private schools to help educate poor children is a moral outrage. | Independent schools should lose their charitable status unless they volunteer to run state academies, the UK’s chief schools inspector has said, warning that the reluctance of private schools to help educate poor children is a moral outrage. |
| Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of Ofsted, said: “I get quite angry when I hear independent school heads saying ‘inequality is getting worse, we’ve got to do something’ and wringing their hands. Well, we know that. So get stuck in and sponsor an academy.” | Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of Ofsted, said: “I get quite angry when I hear independent school heads saying ‘inequality is getting worse, we’ve got to do something’ and wringing their hands. Well, we know that. So get stuck in and sponsor an academy.” |
| Speaking at a conference on social mobility on Wednesday, Wilshaw added: “I think they should lose their tax subsidies and the reliefs they get from the Charity Commission unless they sponsor an academy and show that they really mean what they say.” | Speaking at a conference on social mobility on Wednesday, Wilshaw added: “I think they should lose their tax subsidies and the reliefs they get from the Charity Commission unless they sponsor an academy and show that they really mean what they say.” |
| Asked about the partnerships and scholarships that private schools currently offer, Wilshaw derided them as a sop. He said: “It’s a way of meeting the demands of the Charity Commission and not much else.” | Asked about the partnerships and scholarships that private schools currently offer, Wilshaw derided them as a sop. He said: “It’s a way of meeting the demands of the Charity Commission and not much else.” |
| “I say this, really, in a sense of moral outrage, that they are opening up all these independent schools in Dubai and the Middle East and elsewhere – sucking in more of our teachers, who aren’t going to Derby or Northampton or Grimsby or Hull, but going off to an independent school sponsored by the big public schools over here. | “I say this, really, in a sense of moral outrage, that they are opening up all these independent schools in Dubai and the Middle East and elsewhere – sucking in more of our teachers, who aren’t going to Derby or Northampton or Grimsby or Hull, but going off to an independent school sponsored by the big public schools over here. |
| “It’s a sense of moral outrage that they not doing enough for our own poor children.” | “It’s a sense of moral outrage that they not doing enough for our own poor children.” |
| Private schools qualify for charitable status because of their educational mission, which some critics say is inappropriate for institutions charging around £30,000 for a boarding school place. | Private schools qualify for charitable status because of their educational mission, which some critics say is inappropriate for institutions charging around £30,000 for a boarding school place. |
| Related: Ofsted boss clashes with private school heads over 'deep pockets' remark | Related: Ofsted boss clashes with private school heads over 'deep pockets' remark |
| But Wilshaw’s comments were rejected as “utter nonsense” by John Claughton, headteacher of King Edward’s school, Birmingham, who was present at the conference. | But Wilshaw’s comments were rejected as “utter nonsense” by John Claughton, headteacher of King Edward’s school, Birmingham, who was present at the conference. |
| Claughton said his school worked with nearly 200 state primary schools in Birmingham, and last year alone spent £2m on means-tested scholarships, with 100 of the school’s 850 pupils receiving a full rebate of the £12,000 fee and a further 100 benefiting from financial assistance. | Claughton said his school worked with nearly 200 state primary schools in Birmingham, and last year alone spent £2m on means-tested scholarships, with 100 of the school’s 850 pupils receiving a full rebate of the £12,000 fee and a further 100 benefiting from financial assistance. |
| “To say that we do nothing for our community is disgraceful. Accusing independent schools of stealing all the state school teachers is extraordinary,” Claughton said. | “To say that we do nothing for our community is disgraceful. Accusing independent schools of stealing all the state school teachers is extraordinary,” Claughton said. |
| Wilshaw has been a frequent critic of the independent sector’s lack of involvement in sponsoring academies or free schools, although a number of leading private schools such as Eton and Manchester Grammar school have done so. | Wilshaw has been a frequent critic of the independent sector’s lack of involvement in sponsoring academies or free schools, although a number of leading private schools such as Eton and Manchester Grammar school have done so. |
| “It’s small potatoes, really, those bursaries. The independent sector would have much more impact if they allied themselves – as one or two do – with local schools to improve those schools’ performance,” Wilshaw told the conference. | “It’s small potatoes, really, those bursaries. The independent sector would have much more impact if they allied themselves – as one or two do – with local schools to improve those schools’ performance,” Wilshaw told the conference. |
| Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust, told the conference that teacher recruitment by independent schools was a big issue at a time of severe shortages in the state sector. | Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust, told the conference that teacher recruitment by independent schools was a big issue at a time of severe shortages in the state sector. |
| Wilshaw added that teachers were “trained by the taxpayer, and then to go off into the independent sector seems wrong. I just think we need to worry about this. | Wilshaw added that teachers were “trained by the taxpayer, and then to go off into the independent sector seems wrong. I just think we need to worry about this. |
| “If the independent sector is going to have all these privileges, then they should put something back.” | “If the independent sector is going to have all these privileges, then they should put something back.” |
| But Wilshaw’s claim that “the independent sector is expanding exponentially abroad and taking our teachers” was disputed by the Independent Schools Council. | But Wilshaw’s claim that “the independent sector is expanding exponentially abroad and taking our teachers” was disputed by the Independent Schools Council. |
| Julie Robinson, the ISC’s general secretary, said: “The truth is, there are just 44 schools set up abroad by ISC schools and between them they do not employ large numbers of UK-trained teachers. | Julie Robinson, the ISC’s general secretary, said: “The truth is, there are just 44 schools set up abroad by ISC schools and between them they do not employ large numbers of UK-trained teachers. |
| “It therefore seems wrong to state, as Mr Wilshaw has, that this is the cause of teacher shortages in this country and we see no reason why independent schools setting up international campuses should be a problem.” | “It therefore seems wrong to state, as Mr Wilshaw has, that this is the cause of teacher shortages in this country and we see no reason why independent schools setting up international campuses should be a problem.” |
| Related: UK schools suffering as newly qualified teachers 'flock abroad' | Related: UK schools suffering as newly qualified teachers 'flock abroad' |
| Wilshaw has previously said that he recruited teachers from abroad – including from Ireland – when he was head teacher in state secondary schools in London. | Wilshaw has previously said that he recruited teachers from abroad – including from Ireland – when he was head teacher in state secondary schools in London. |
| Chris King, chair of the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference of public schools and head of Leicester Grammar School, said Wilshaw’s “simplistic, adversarial approach” did not stand up to scrutiny. | Chris King, chair of the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference of public schools and head of Leicester Grammar School, said Wilshaw’s “simplistic, adversarial approach” did not stand up to scrutiny. |
| “Some independent schools already successfully sponsor academies but not all independent schools have the resources, expertise or personnel to do so,” King said. | “Some independent schools already successfully sponsor academies but not all independent schools have the resources, expertise or personnel to do so,” King said. |
| “Perhaps it would be more productive to find ways of improving state education, which many independent schools are already doing through successful and unsung partnerships.” | “Perhaps it would be more productive to find ways of improving state education, which many independent schools are already doing through successful and unsung partnerships.” |
| Earlier, Wilshaw criticised state secondary schools, and claimed that many new teachers were leaving the profession because of “poor culture in the schools they are going into and poor behaviour ... and what they see as poor leadership”. | Earlier, Wilshaw criticised state secondary schools, and claimed that many new teachers were leaving the profession because of “poor culture in the schools they are going into and poor behaviour ... and what they see as poor leadership”. |
| “Something is going wrong in our secondary schools,” Wilshaw said, pointing out the persistent gap in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. | “Something is going wrong in our secondary schools,” Wilshaw said, pointing out the persistent gap in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. |
| “If you are going to improve social mobility, our secondary school performance is going to have to radically improve.” | “If you are going to improve social mobility, our secondary school performance is going to have to radically improve.” |
| The Department for Education rejected Wilshaw’s comments, saying that state schools are “increasingly matching the private sector” in performance.“The assumption that state schools need to learn from the independent sector is outdated,” a DfE spokesperson said. |