Is there a major revolution stirring among Englands independent schools?
Have they rediscovered their social conscience or are they just finding new ways to survive in cash-strapped times? This week Birkenhead High School became the fifth independent, fee-charging school to announce its intention to become a state-funded city academy. Like all schools taking this route, this involves abandoning two of the most characteristic features of independent schools – fees and academic selection. However, the school will retain its independence in all other matters. With just five defections from the 1,280 schools within the solid ranks of the Independent Schools Council this is hardly a mass exodus. Nor have we yet seen any such moves from the famous public schools from the affluent south-east of England, where the middle-classes still seem able to afford ever-rising fees. The schools that are becoming academies are substantial, highly-academic schools with long traditions and good facilities The idea of Eton or Harrow becoming academies still seems a long way off.
