Majority in favour of free independent school places scheme, poll suggests

Three in five people are in favour of a scheme to create thousands of free places a year at independent schools.

According to a poll carried out on behalf of the Independent Schools Council, 62 per cent of 2,053 respondents would like to see the proposal for the ‘Free to Families” scheme introduced.

It would create up to 10,000 free places a year for children from low-income families through joint funding with the government.

Sixty-seven per cent of parents of children at senior school are in favour of the concept and it has received support from Ralph Lucas, editor and chief of The Good Schools Guide and MP Graham Brady.

The proposal, which was announced in December last year, would see the government contribute £5,500. This is the cost of an annual place at a state school and the independent school would top up the rest of the costs. This is worth an average of £8,000 per year and would enable places to be free for families.

Places would be available based on low household income and would be offered across age groups, which would be non-selective.

The proposal would see no extra costs inflicted on the government as it would be the equivalent of filling ten new state schools without having to build them.

Barnaby Lenon, Independent Schools Council chairman commented: “These proposals would help create many more much needed good school places at no extra cost to the state.

“It is no surprise that the majority of people are in favour of this scheme.

“Independent schools stand ready and willing to contribute as part of the national education system and to expand real social mobility in this country.”