Government bid to extend role of independent sector in state education, writes TIM ROSS

Bright teenagers from poor families will receive expert coaching from private schools to help them win places at top universities under a new Government initiative. Ministers want to see more working-class students at universities such as Oxford, where the proportion of state-school undergraduates is still low.

Schools Minister Lord Adonis announced £4m to fund more partnerships between state and private schools aimed at giving extra tuition to "gifted and talented" pupils.

He said the money could fund masterclasses and coaching to help bright sixth-formers from state schools prepare for interviews at top universities.

"That would be well within the remit of the schemes we are talking about," the minister said.

The extra tuition will be focused on pupils identified as "gifted and talented", particularly in maths, science or languages, where state schools struggle to recruit good teachers. But the minister denied that the move represented a criticism of language, maths or science teaching in state schools.

Speaking at the Girls' School Association Conference (GSA) in Leeds, Lord Adonis said: "It is a recognition that partnership between independent schools and state schools can produce additional opportunities that aren't available at the moment.

"It is certainly not in any way a commentary on provision in the state sector, which in all of the main areas is good and available nationwide. In some areas, like, for example, minority languages, it may be that independent schools within these partnerships can extend provision.

"We need to be innovative and bold to meet our aim of raising standards in deprived communities. There are still neighbourhoods where going to university is exceptional and individual talent is wasted.

"I want to tap into the enormous enthusiasm and creativity in both state and independent sectors to help inspire bright youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds to meet their potential and get to university.

"We will give priority to projects focusing on increasing attainment in modern languages, science and maths from GCSE to university-entry levels."

The £4m, on top of £10m already spent on independent-state school partnerships, will fund between 15 and 20 new projects between clusters of state and independent schools.

The announcement marks the latest attempt from the Government to recruit private schools to help improve education for poorer pupils in state comprehensives.

Last month, Lord Adonis urged leading private school heads to consider sponsoring the Government's flagship academies. These are semi-independent schools backed by wealthy sponsors who have greater freedom to set the kind of education their pupils receive.

Academies were established in an attempt to transform so-called failing comprehensives in poor areas but ministers are now reviewing the scheme.

The North Oxfordshire Academy in Banbury became Oxfordshire's first academy this term. The former Drayton School is sponsored by the United Learning Trust and receives financial support from the Vodafone UK Foundation. The academy specialises in media and communication, plus business and enterprise. Proposals to turn Peers School in Oxford into an academy are still to be approved.