HMC chairman's annual address
1 October 2007
HMC Annual Meeting 2007
The Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth
“There is a magic ingredient which makes our schools so very good. That magic ingredient is independence.”
Dr Bernard Trafford, Chairman of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) told members at the opening of their annual conference in Bournemouth today that they should rejoice in the success of their schools, and not to lose sight of this despite threats to their independent status.
Dr Trafford covered the three main issues faced by the independent sector:
- Increasing regulatory burden
- Academies: threat or opportunity
- The threat to charitable status
On regulatory burden:
The Chairman highlighted the issue of “creeping government regulation”, namely from Ofsted, referring in particular to the proposal that registration and regulation of independent schools should move from the DCSF to Ofsted. Dr Trafford praised the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) for its “excellent inspection system, appropriate to our schools and monitored by them.” He warned, however, that “still additional regulation creeps in, unbidden and unwanted. It’s as if they’re trying to find the solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.”
On academies:
Dr Trafford, Headmaster of Wolverhampton Grammar School, welcomed Lord Adonis who will be addressing the conference tomorrow on the issue of academies. “Academies. Love them, fear them, loathe them. Probably all three reactions are present in this room, but we can’t ignore them,” he said. “Academies are now a major feature of the UK educational landscape. Many HMC schools are keen to be involved – as sponsors, or just as good neighbours and partners. For others, an academy on the doorstep is a real threat. Others still may be unaware of any effect on them, at least so far.”
On charitable status:
Dr Trafford said “I have no problem with proper discussion about public benefit in light of new legislation. I do object to trial in the media without right of reply. And I object to unchallenged assertions that, for example, our schools will have to sponsor academies in order to satisfy any future public benefit test. It’s rubbish, and it’s ignorant: it’s people having a go at us. Actually, it’s absurd, but it’s damaging when it’s repeated so often.”
Dr Trafford concluded by saying that “we (independent schools) are vital to the country’s economy, to its skills and knowledge needs, to its very future. And any action that imperils our schools puts at risk the future competitiveness and prosperity of Britain.”
Notes to editors
The full text of Dr Trafford’s speech is available from the ISC Press Office.
The Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, established in 1869, comprises 250 senior independent schools throughout the UK and Ireland. Its schools have more than 190,000 pupils, nearly 59,000 of them girls. About 38,700 pupils in HMC schools are boarders.
Ends
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Email: alex.caish@isc.co.uk