David Cameron warned to stop interfering by headteachers

Private and state school heads criticise PM’s ‘apartheid’ jibe, saying the relationship between sectors is better than ever Headteachers from private and state schools have criticised David Cameron’s remarks that there is an “apartheid” between the two sectors of education, claiming their relationship is better than it has ever been. Heads of top public schools, including Eton, also warned ministers that they were starting to interfere too much in the way they run their schools and risked undermining their independence. Bernard Trafford, head of the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, said the Tories “now feel like former friends who are starting to disown us”. His remarks come after David Cameron told the Conservative party conference on Wednesday that “the apartheid between our private and state schools is one of the biggest wasted opportunities in our country today”. He said the way to “tear down” the barriers was for private schools to set up – or sponsor – state academies. In September, Michael Gove, the education secretary, and Cameron invited 10 public school headteachers to Downing Street, asking them to be involved in academies. Thirty private schools already either sponsor or work with academies. They include Wellington College in Berkshire which sponsors Wellington academy, a comprehensive in Wiltshire; Berkhamsted school in Hertfordshire which co-sponsors the Wren academy, a comprehensive in Barnet, north London; and Marlborough College in Wiltshire, which loans staff and shares facilities with Swindon academy, a comprehensive. Many others have worked with state schools in different ways for centuries and fund-raise to offer places at their schools to disadvantaged children who cannot afford their fees. Tony Little, the headteacher of Eton College, where fees are up to £10,327 a term, said the relationship between state and independent schools was better than ever. He said he did not recognise Cameron’s comment, and that barriers had “already been broken down”. He doubted Cameron and Gove’s model of private schools setting up, or sponsoring, academies would be taken up by many of his colleagues. “I think setting up or sponsoring academies is good for some schools … but at Eton we have expertise in academic selection and in boarding. Our expertise is not in co-educational, non-selective education.” Kenneth Durham, headteacher of University College school in Hampstead, north London, urged colleagues at the annual conference of an association of public and leading independent schools this week not to believe “we need to be lectured about the importance of partnership and co-operation between independent and state schools … nor that there can only be one model for such partnership”. He said minsters had recently talked of a Berlin Wall between fee-paying and non fee-paying schools. “It is emotive nonsense … we are intelligent institutions. We know co-operation benefits everyone: the students and teachers in all the schools and the nation as a whole. But the model for co-operation must be the choice of the schools themselves … we cannot restrict ourselves to a single model.” Trafford said it felt as if ministers were trying to manipulate private schools. “The Tories no longer feel like friends. They feel like former friends who are starting to disown us.” He said Cameron’s comments were offensive. “We work like fury to raise funds for bursaries … what can I tell a head in a school in a disadvantaged area? I can tell them about never bending on high expectations. But in an area where there are three generations without jobs and where they have no concept of a working household, what have I got to tell them? In my school, the parents are totally signed up to education. It would just be arrogant.” Headteachers in state schools also dismissed Cameron’s remarks. Joan McVittie, headteacher of Woodside high school, a comprehensive in Haringey, north London, and president of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the relationship between state and private schools was extremely positive. She attributed improved relations to funds given under the last government to encourage private and state schools to share sports equipment and science laboratories. Stephen Winkley, head of Rossall School, an independent school in Lancashire, said: “Cameron’s comments show that he has not really understood what it feels like to be in the education system. “There isn’t that much between us all. The current government has got into interfering mode rather quicker than we had hoped for.” Getting together Wellington College started to sponsor Wellington academy in 2009, one of the first such collaborations between private and state schools. Teachers meet their opposite number to mull over lesson plans and pupils meet their peers “at the other place” through drama productions, geography trips or on university open days. The schools have a joint committee which meets six times a year. Andy Schofield, principal of the academy, says it has tried to offer some of the self-confidence the college gives its pupils, and the academy has taught college teachers what it is like to teach a wider spectrum of ability. Anthony Seldon, headteacher of the college, says it has been the highlight of his 25 years in teaching. Schools Private schools Secondary schools Equality David Cameron Education policy Conservative conference 2011 Conservative conference Jessica Shepherd guardian.co.uk

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