Ofsted chief criticises private schools

In a speech to private school teachers, Sir Michael said they should be doing more to help their state sector colleagues.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference in London, Sir Michael said head teachers in inner cities “haven’t got the time to worry whether their children are climbing trees proficiently”.

He added: “These heads know that gaining academic qualifications is the one route out of poverty and disadvantage. They would find it deeply insulting to believe that some in this room felt that they don’t worry sufficiently about a balanced education for their students.

Climbing trees

“They would feel particularly insulted if this criticism was coming from some educationalists who have the luxury of teaching children from aspirant and often well-heeled homes – homes that would make damn sure that their children passed their exams, even though the school afforded them the time to climb trees and gaze upon the beauties of life. Indeed, how many inner-city comprehensives have a tree?”

Under the Labour government, private schools were told they had to prove they were providing “public benefit” if they wanted to keep their charitable status, which gives them tax benefits.

In September, the Charity Commission published new guidance saying private schools have to provide benefits to “people of modest means” that are “more than minimal or token”.

Your country needs you, the state system needs you Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw

It is up to the schools to decide how they do this, whether it is sharing playing fields with the state sector or helping teach deprived pupils.

The guidance says fee-paying schools could offer bursaries, sponsor academies, second teachers to state schools, or allow state school pupils to use their sports facilities.

Sir Michael, whose organisation inspects half of independent schools, said the private sector had a major part to play in helping state schools.

He said that figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC) showed that only 3 per cent of its members (34 schools) sponsored an academy, and 5 per cent loaned teachers to state schools.

“For the vast majority of independent schools, the commitment and resource is far less – a bit of coaching for A-level students, the occasional loan of a playing field,” said Sir Michael, pictured above.

‘Crumbs off your tables’

“I’m sorry to say, but the ISC’s list of activities is hardly evidence of a comprehensive commitment to partnership with state schools. It’s thin stuff. These are crumbs off your tables, leading more to famine than feast.”

Sir Michael said it was his “Lord Kitchener moment”, adding: “Your country needs you, the state system needs you.

“There is a perception that the independent sector only does its duty when push comes to shove, that it doesn’t really care about the educational world beyond its cloisters and quads and only reaches out when the Charity Commission, universities or government forces it to act.

“I think that’s unfair. Some of you are doing excellent work. But I can understand why inaction in other cases can be misconstrued as indifference.”

Martin Reader, headmaster of Wellington School in Somerset, told Sir Michael that he had been rejected by state schools when he approached them to offer support, saying some were “politically opposed” to private schools.

He called for the Ofsted chief inspector to write a letter to state schools setting out the reasons why they should form partnerships with the private sector.