We do not fear competition say private schools

Dame Judith Mayhew Jones, will tell private school teachers today that vital differences still exist between the new style of state schools and independents.

Opening the Independent Schools’ conference, its chairman will say: “We are gratified that the Government has recognised the importance of independence by adopting it as the blueprint for their new academies and free school policies.

“But we believe that the consumer should beware imitations and recognise the limitations of independence in the state sector.

“We do not fear competition from the many excellent state schools that exist. We have competed with them for pupils for many years.

“We have no doubt that some or many of the new academies and free schools will offer parents the sort of education they seek for their children.

“But it must be remembered that there will still be vital differences in what those schools are allowed to do to take account of individual children’s needs and abilities.”

Under Government reforms parents and teachers are being urged to set up their own free schools if they are unhappy with the choice on offer from their local authority.

Ministers are also expanding the number of academies by allowing existing schools to opt out of council control and get their funding directly from the Government.