Improving state schools could threaten private sector

Improvements in state schools mean that many parents who could afford private education are instead choosing the state sector, according to the Good Schools Guide.

Ralph Lucas, editor-in-chief of the Good Schools Guide, has said that the growing popularity of state schools could put weaker private schools out of business.

State schools now make up 25 per cent of the Good Schools Guide, compared to just four per cent when it was launched in 1986.

Speaking to BBC Radio Four’s Today programme, Lucas said: "I would guess that over time we would see fewer independent schools. If more parents are choosing state, then there's a smaller market for independent schools. If they are going to continue to expand as they have been doing, they are going to have to find new sources of parents or new ways of attracting parents.

"This is a challenge to the private sector. There are a lot of extremely good schools that are well managed, that are responding by making themselves even better.”

William Richardson, the general secretary of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, said he was surprised by Lucas’ comments, as pupil numbers are currently at record levels in private schools, but hailed the improved quality of state education.

He said: “At the same time, he is correct to say that, overall, state schools have also never been better. In particular, the expectations of parents and pupils across the country have been transformed over the past two generations.”