Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of possible partnerships between state and private schools, and the possible implications for private schools already offering significant bursaries and scholarships.

We welcome the fact that as noted in my previous Answer on this subject (HL3224), more than 9 out of 10 independent schools are engaged on partnership activity. However, we want this to continue to be a voluntary activity, borne out of genuine enthusiasm for the benefits of such arrangements, and carried out in a way proportionate to the resources of the schools involved. It would be counter-productive if an artificial requirement for partnership resulted in a reduction in the resources that schools devote to the provision of scholarships and other assistance with fees, which also demonstrates public benefit and helps social mobility.