Shropshire private schools defend community record
Headteachers at private schools in Shropshire today defended their links with local communities – as Labour unveiled plans to bring in legislation forcing them to work more closely with state schools.
Independent schools in the county are already forging links with the new University Centre Shrewsbury, state schools, businesses and charitable organisations, it has been claimed.
One headteacher has welcomed the idea of schools being made to work more closely – but doubted whether smaller schools would have sufficient resources to make such a system work.
It is one of the leading independent schools in Shropshire, but Adcote School for Girls says it is committed to opening up opportunities for pupils from all backgrounds.
The school near Shrewsbury has announced it is offering five new academic scholarships worth up to 100 per cent of fees for day girls whose families live in the county.
Headmaster Gary Wright said it was important that the school is seen to be part of the community and as well as offering scholarships it takes part in events involving state schools. Girls from Adcote School took part in a technology day at Oswestry's Marches School earlier this year and were also involved in Shrewsbury Flower Show.
Mr Wright
said: "The five competitive scholarships will be offered to girls who are able to display academic ability coupled with leadership potential.
"There will be two scholarships for entry at the start of Year 12/sixth form, two scholarships for entry at the start of Year 10 which is the first year of GCSEs, and one for entry at the start of Year 7, senior school."
Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt wants private schools to provide qualified teachers in specialist subjects to state schools, share their expertise to help state school students get into top universities and to run joint extra-curricular programmes with local schools.
A future Labour Government would change the law so that any private school that is found not to meet a new "Schools Partnership Standard" will lose an existing taxpayer subsidy – in the form of business rates relief.
But concerns have been raised this could cost a school anywhere from a few tens of thousands to a few hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Jonathan Bartlett, headteacher at Moor Park day and boarding school in Richards Castle, near Ludlow, said: "In principle I think it's a good idea that all schools work together when they can to benefit all children. In fact a lot of independent schools are already working very closely with state schools.
"But the thing that concerns me is if a Labour Government were going to put that into legislation, some of the smaller schools may not have resources to share or the staff to spare."
Gary Wright, headteacher of Adcote School for Girls in Little Ness, near Shrewsbury, said while the school doesn't work with other schools it is heavily involved in the local community.
He said: "As a charity, a significant proportion of our income is given away as bursaries and scholarships and so we have an annual scholarship programme. Part of our remit is to assist those who could otherwise not afford our fees.
"I met with two people from the new University College in Shrewsbury this week to look at collaborating with them."
