Head defends school independence

Independent schools control their own admissions and curriculum

A leading private school head teacher says the government is trying to "nick" the term "independent" for academies.

The chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, Bernard Trafford, said the privately-sponsored state schools lacked the same freedoms.

He also told its annual gathering in Bournemouth that independent schools should reject inspection by "government's rottweiler" - Ofsted.

They should instead be answerable to a minister accountable to Parliament.

Dr Trafford, head of the private Wolverhampton Grammar School, said: "We need to protect our independence because it's under threat.

"Above all it's under threat, deliberately or unwittingly - I suspect a mixture of both - from government."

Sponsors

He added: "We must say, very firmly, hands off. We are independent.

"We need to be very robust in defence of our independence - and fight this latest creeping regulation."

The government has been for some time urging the private sector to sponsor academies and say that more than 20 are engaged in backing some 47 academies.

But also four so far have decided to join the state sector - and get government funding - by applying for academy status.

Schools Minister Lord Adonis is due to address the conference on the subject on Tuesday, and is expected to announce the name of a fifth.

The Independent Schools Council has predicted that as many as 20 might do so, prompted primarily by financial need.

Dr Trafford said academies were not truly independent, as private schools were, because they had to teach the core elements of the national curriculum, had no real freedom over admissions and were Ofsted inspected.

"The benefits of our independence are incalculable," he said.

"But the concept and nature of independence are becoming an area of contention and I am convinced we must value, exploit and protect ours."