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Private sector 'to loan teachers' Private sector 'to loan teachers'
(40 minutes later)
Private schools could be required to lend teachers to state schools and share other facilities under proposals by Education Secretary Alan Johnson.Private schools could be required to lend teachers to state schools and share other facilities under proposals by Education Secretary Alan Johnson.
Mr Johnson, a Labour deputy leadership candidate, says independent schools in England and Wales should do more to justify their charitable status.Mr Johnson, a Labour deputy leadership candidate, says independent schools in England and Wales should do more to justify their charitable status.
New charity rules mean private schools now have to pass a public benefit test showing how they add to communities.New charity rules mean private schools now have to pass a public benefit test showing how they add to communities.
They claim many schools would close if not for the annual £100m in tax breaks.They claim many schools would close if not for the annual £100m in tax breaks.
Some teachers told the BBC that they found it patronising of Mr Johnson to imply that state school teachers needed the help of private school teachers.Some teachers told the BBC that they found it patronising of Mr Johnson to imply that state school teachers needed the help of private school teachers.
So they have these facilities, they should make those facilities open to state school pupils as well Education Secretary Alan JohnsonSo they have these facilities, they should make those facilities open to state school pupils as well Education Secretary Alan Johnson
And a spokeswoman for the National Union of Teachers said it was not "a one-way street".And a spokeswoman for the National Union of Teachers said it was not "a one-way street".
"Private schools have a massive amount to learn from state schools."Private schools have a massive amount to learn from state schools.
"Teaching 30-35 pupils is very different from teaching 15 and requires a totally different set of skills and is much more demanding. That's the big problem that private school teachers will have," she said."Teaching 30-35 pupils is very different from teaching 15 and requires a totally different set of skills and is much more demanding. That's the big problem that private school teachers will have," she said.
Specialist teachersSpecialist teachers
Speaking at a hustings meeting in Bristol, Mr Johnson said the Charity Commission was looking to update what private schools had to do to earn their charitable status.Speaking at a hustings meeting in Bristol, Mr Johnson said the Charity Commission was looking to update what private schools had to do to earn their charitable status.
HAVE YOUR SAY Why should the Private School play ball with the State? Dave Price, Leeds Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Why should the Private School play ball with the State? Dave Price, Leeds Send us your comments
He said: "It shouldn't just be access to a sports field and the occasional amateur dramatic society open event."He said: "It shouldn't just be access to a sports field and the occasional amateur dramatic society open event."
Mr Johnson said private schools tended to get more specialist teachers and spend more money on facilities such as science labs.Mr Johnson said private schools tended to get more specialist teachers and spend more money on facilities such as science labs.
He added: "So they have these facilities, they should make those facilities open to state school pupils as well, and they should join in a partnership with state schools in order to get their charitable status. And I think that's crucial."He added: "So they have these facilities, they should make those facilities open to state school pupils as well, and they should join in a partnership with state schools in order to get their charitable status. And I think that's crucial."
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson outlined his proposal, saying the independent education sector's charitable status meant it needed to contribute more to its surrounding communities.In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson outlined his proposal, saying the independent education sector's charitable status meant it needed to contribute more to its surrounding communities.
I think Alan Johnson needs to pick his words carefully because I think it does sound patronising to the wonderful teachers we have in state schools John O'FarrellI think Alan Johnson needs to pick his words carefully because I think it does sound patronising to the wonderful teachers we have in state schools John O'Farrell
Anthony Seldon, the master of Wellington College in Berkshire, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he would be happy to lend his teachers to state schools.Anthony Seldon, the master of Wellington College in Berkshire, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he would be happy to lend his teachers to state schools.
"It's been a great tragedy for British education over the last hundred years that there has been an apartheid between the state and independent sectors - and this is not helpful for the children, nor the teachers, nor the country at large.""It's been a great tragedy for British education over the last hundred years that there has been an apartheid between the state and independent sectors - and this is not helpful for the children, nor the teachers, nor the country at large."
He said there were many more highly qualified graduate teachers in the sciences, languages and maths in the private sector, who should be shared in a "non-patronising way" with the state sector.He said there were many more highly qualified graduate teachers in the sciences, languages and maths in the private sector, who should be shared in a "non-patronising way" with the state sector.
Mr Seldon added that there were many ways in which private schools already shared facilities and pointed out that parents pay fees as well as taxes.Mr Seldon added that there were many ways in which private schools already shared facilities and pointed out that parents pay fees as well as taxes.
Chinese teachersChinese teachers
Some teachers told the programme that it was an insult to suggest that state school teachers did not do as good a job as private school ones.Some teachers told the programme that it was an insult to suggest that state school teachers did not do as good a job as private school ones.
Novelist John O'Farrell, who chairs the governors of Lambeth Academy in South London, agreed, saying that state school teachers had to teach more varied communities than their private school counterparts.Novelist John O'Farrell, who chairs the governors of Lambeth Academy in South London, agreed, saying that state school teachers had to teach more varied communities than their private school counterparts.
"We don't really need private school teachers in the state system."We don't really need private school teachers in the state system.
"What might be useful is the odd highly specialised teacher, teachers of Chinese or something, but that aside I think Alan Johnson needs to pick his words carefully because I think it does sound patronising to the wonderful teachers we have in state schools," said Mr O'Farrell."What might be useful is the odd highly specialised teacher, teachers of Chinese or something, but that aside I think Alan Johnson needs to pick his words carefully because I think it does sound patronising to the wonderful teachers we have in state schools," said Mr O'Farrell.
Mr Johnson, who will appear on Saturday in the latest in a series of deputy leadership hustings meetings, has submitted a series of proposals to the charities' regulator, the Charities Commission. Mr Johnson has submitted a series of proposals to the charities' regulator, the Charities Commission.
Sarah Atkinson from the Charity Commission said schools, like every other charity, must show that they benefit the public to justify their charity status.
"That means that they've got to show a real benefit to the public, so not just a private interest," she said.
"And crucially they've got to show how people on low incomes can benefit as well."