Independent schools launch attack on Government interference

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) claims that interference by the Government is threatening the successful running of private schools and undermines traditional values of independent education.

David Lyscom, Chief Executive of the ISC, claims that the excellent results are down the independence and freedom of being able to do things differently. He argues that while ironically promoting such values, the Government has operated in another direction and over the last few years such independence has been ‘whittled away’:

“We share the concerns of the state sector that layer upon layer of regulation has been added. These layers conflict and overlap and make the running of a school very, very difficult.”

Conservative claims that private school elitism is ‘undermining social mobility’ will also be challenged as Mr Lyscom argues that only 7 per cent of children are in private education:

"This is a big and significant minority that cannot be dismissed as rich kids in posh schools. We have 1,250 schools that range from the big-name institutions to very small local schools that charge £5,000 a year.”

The manifesto is the first to be produced by fee-paying schools.

Conservatives have already claimed that would instruct the Charity Commission to take a broader vision on what would benefit the UK at a national level, including the idea of partnerships with state schools.