Clarke to pay private schools to teach sixth-formers

Sixth-form state pupils may be allowed to take some courses at private schools with their fees paid by the Government.

The move will allow pupils who want to study an A-level or other course not offered at their state school to apply for their fees to be paid at a private school offering that course.

In a major policy U-turn, Education Secretary Charles Clarke announced the scheme today to a conference of private school heads, who immediately welcomed it.

The move marks a major departure for Labour.

One of Tony Blair's first acts was to abolish the Tories' Assisted Places Scheme under which pupils from less well-off families received state help with school fees.

A spokesman for the Independent Schools Council, representing major fee-paying schools, said it would now press for the taxpayer to pay fees for younger pupils.

He said: "This establishes the principle that state money can be used to fund independent education."

Today's move, announced at a conference at independent Brighton College, came as the latest evidence of fresh thinking in Labour about the relationship between the state and fee-paying education sectors.

Senior Labour figures are said to have expressed " serious interest" in a plan floated by the school's head, Dr Anthony Seldon. Under his scheme, parents would pay towards the cost of their children's education whether they attended state or independent schools, according to a means test of their income.

That would mean a historic break with the principle of free education in state schools, with better-off parents paying fees. In independent schools, while richer parents would pay full fees, those on lower earnings would get a state subsidy, reviving a version of the Assisted Places scheme.

Mr Clarke has previously drawn the line at extending state funding to pupils attending fee-paying schools, arguing that taxpayers' money is better spent improving state schools.

Instead, the Government has funded co-operation between the two sectors, which has already led to many independent schools

sharing facilities and expertise with state schools.

Today, Mr Clarke announced a further £1.4 million over the next two years to fund similar schemes.

He also urged independent schools to work more closely with the state - suggesting more should follow the example of those sponsoring the new City Academies which the Government is establishing to raise standards in the inner cities.