麻豆社

Public schools are to offer up to 10,000 free places to lower income families, providing the government pays them what it would cost to educate the children in the state system. Is this a step in the right direction or set to do more harm than good?

Ross Hawkins reports from Surrey and speaks to Sir Michael Wilshaw, Chief Inspector of Schools. He says independent schools "can do better than that".

Barnaby Lenon is chairman of the Independent Schools Council and argues "education is a charitable object" and they have been "charities for hundreds of years".

Estelle Morris is former Labour education secretary and opposes this scheme, she says this will disadvantage state schools.

(Image: Public school Credit: Getty Images)