A famous public school is to back one of the Government's flagship academies as part of a drive to improve education for children from poor areas, it was announced today.
Winchester College will help run a planned new state-funded academy 30 miles away and share teaching materials and staff training with the school.
The announcement comes as private schools face the threat of losing tax breaks worth £100 million per year if they operate exclusively for the children of the rich.
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Ralph Townsend, headmaster of Winchester College, said he wanted to develop a strong relationship with the new school.
He said: ''This is a wonderful opportunity for Winchester to look outward, to share our knowledge and experience with those with similar aspirations to us and to learn from our partner organisation.
''The historic mission of Winchester College fits well with the aims of the academies programme.
''We are very keen to work closely with a school geographically close to us with whom we can build an ongoing relationship of support and sharing.''
Schools minister Lord Adonis, who devised the academies programme while an adviser to Tony Blair, hailed Winchester's backing as ''a decisive moment'' for the scheme.
''Winchester is a powerhouse of academic excellence, which it will bring to its academy and to the wider programme,'' he said.
The minister said at least 20 private schools were engaged in the academies scheme and urged others to sign up.
The United Learning Trust (ULT), which is the biggest backer of academies across England, will be the sole formal sponsor of the proposed new academy at Midhurst. Winchester College will be involved in a partnership with the ULT.
Later this week, the Charity Commission will publish a report detailing how independent schools can meet their new legal obligation to show that they operate for the wider public good.
The Commission has warned that private schools face losing the tax breaks that go with their charitable status if they operate as ''exclusive clubs'' for the children of wealthy parents who can afford high fees.
In exchange for up to £2 million, an academy sponsor receives a major say in the running of the school, setting its ethos and appointing governors.
Ministers launched the scheme in 2002 with the aim of transforming failing comprehensives in the poorest areas through the energy and expertise of private sector backers.
But teachers' unions and Labour MPs have opposed the programme as the ''privatisation'' of state education.
"But teachers' unions and Labour MPs have opposed the programme as the ''privatisation'' of state education."
The Echo should do an FOI enquiry on how many MP's and teachers send their offspring to a private school. Now that would be interesting.
"But teachers' unions and Labour MPs have opposed the programme as the ''privatisation'' of state education."
The Echo should do an FOI enquiry on how many MP's and teachers send their offspring to a private school. Now that would be interesting.
Posted by: redfield, Winchester on 5:29pm Tue 11 Mar 08
Nice to see the College going back to its roots. I believe Winchester stared off as a school for lees well off kids under William Wykham. How it became a posh kids school is lost in history. Why a school in Sussex? Aren't there enough schools in Hampshire to help?
Nice to see the College going back to its roots. I believe Winchester stared off as a school for lees well off kids under William Wykham. How it became a posh kids school is lost in history. Why a school in Sussex? Aren't there enough schools in Hampshire to help?
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