Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce inequality between those who are educated privately and those who are state-educated.

We are determined to ensure that every child, regardless of background is given an education which allows them to realise their potential. That is why our reforms place high expectations at the heart of our school system, with a rigorous new curriculum, world class exams and a new accountability system which rewards those schools that encourage every child to achieve their best. In addition, with the new Education and Adoption Bill, we will speed up the process for tackling failing schools and extend our powers into coasting schools. With these measures, we want all schools to be good or outstanding, certainly as good as the best in the independent sector.