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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Start celebrating our contribution, elite schools urge | Start celebrating our contribution, elite schools urge |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Private schools are being used as "lazy shorthand for the social ills of our country", a leading head has claimed. | Private schools are being used as "lazy shorthand for the social ills of our country", a leading head has claimed. |
| "It is time to stop scapegoating and start celebrating our schools," Richard Harman told the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. | "It is time to stop scapegoating and start celebrating our schools," Richard Harman told the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. |
| Private schools are part of the solution to poor social mobility, said Mr Harman. | Private schools are part of the solution to poor social mobility, said Mr Harman. |
| But the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission said a small elite still dominates top jobs in the UK. | |
| "It is welcome that the private school sector wants to build more partnerships with state schools. | "It is welcome that the private school sector wants to build more partnerships with state schools. |
| "Breaking down the Berlin Wall between private and state schools is one way of making Britain a socially mobile country. We are a long way from that today, especially at the top of society", commented commission chairman Alan Milburn. | "Breaking down the Berlin Wall between private and state schools is one way of making Britain a socially mobile country. We are a long way from that today, especially at the top of society", commented commission chairman Alan Milburn. |
| Mr Harman, headmaster of Uppingham School and chairman of the HMC, listed the achievements of independent schools and rejected attempts to "hector", "lecture" and "control" them. | Mr Harman, headmaster of Uppingham School and chairman of the HMC, listed the achievements of independent schools and rejected attempts to "hector", "lecture" and "control" them. |
| 'Social engineering' | 'Social engineering' |
| "We are not a laboratory for social engineering," Mr Harman said. | "We are not a laboratory for social engineering," Mr Harman said. |
| "When it comes to social mobility we are part of the solution, not the root of the problem." | "When it comes to social mobility we are part of the solution, not the root of the problem." |
| More than one in three pupils at HMC schools "are on some form of financial assistance" and between them HMC schools spend £365m a year on fee assistance schemes, he said. | More than one in three pupils at HMC schools "are on some form of financial assistance" and between them HMC schools spend £365m a year on fee assistance schemes, he said. |
| "We want and intend to do more and the impact will be huge if this attitude is reciprocated by government and its unelected officials. We live in hope," Mr Harman said. | "We want and intend to do more and the impact will be huge if this attitude is reciprocated by government and its unelected officials. We live in hope," Mr Harman said. |
| Mr Harman said Britain should take "collective pride" that it has "created some of the very best schools in the world." | |
| They are a crucial academic resource, he said, sending pupils to the best universities who will "give back to society and the economy throughout their working lives." | |
| In his speech, Mr Harman attacked the head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw and a recent report from the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission which said top jobs in the UK are disproportionately held by people educated at private schools. | In his speech, Mr Harman attacked the head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw and a recent report from the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission which said top jobs in the UK are disproportionately held by people educated at private schools. |
| He said Sir Michael "surely exceeded his brief by demanding that independent schools each sponsor an academy." | |
| "I don't take well to being hectored and I doubt you do either." | "I don't take well to being hectored and I doubt you do either." |
| Mr Harman also rejected a suggestion by the former education secretary Michael Gove that Ofsted should extend its remit to regulate private as well as state schools. | Mr Harman also rejected a suggestion by the former education secretary Michael Gove that Ofsted should extend its remit to regulate private as well as state schools. |
| His speech urged policy makers to draw on the HMC's "centuries of expertise." | |
| "But too often those in power are embarrassed to be seen talking with us, preferring instead to threaten us with loss of charitable status or more state control." | "But too often those in power are embarrassed to be seen talking with us, preferring instead to threaten us with loss of charitable status or more state control." |
| The HMC is an "advocate for pupils across the country in all kinds of schools on a wide variety of issues", said Mr Harman. | The HMC is an "advocate for pupils across the country in all kinds of schools on a wide variety of issues", said Mr Harman. |
| The association is "a lone voice" scrutinising the work of the exams regulator Ofqual, he claimed. | The association is "a lone voice" scrutinising the work of the exams regulator Ofqual, he claimed. |
| The speech urged Ofqual to do more to ensure "a high confidence, high trust exams system", providing "air traffic control, not air crash investigation." | |
| "We are speaking up on behalf of fairness for candidates and schools, all candidates in all schools." | "We are speaking up on behalf of fairness for candidates and schools, all candidates in all schools." |
| Mr Milburn said he agreed the best people need to be in top jobs: "There are many good people who come from private schools." | |
| He added: "It the degree of domination that is the concern... | |
| "The more private schools are willing to work with state schools, the better the chances are of changing that." |