Survey after survey shows that parents want their children to be educated independently

Chris Woodhead

The controversial former inspector also confirmed that he is considering setting up his own chain of independent schools.

He will this week publish a book called Class Wars, highlighting a range of problems with the state education system.

Interviewed on BBC One's Breakfast with Frost programme, Mr Woodhead said: "The unions are a part of what I call in my book 'the blob': the educational establishment.

"Classroom teachers know that the educational establishment, the bureaucracy, is getting in the way of them doing the job that they want to do.

Choice for parents

"That is part of the problem. Pay is part of the problem too... but the establishment, the bureaucracy, the intervention, that is at the heart of it."

Asked how the system should be changed, Mr Woodhead said: "Do away with the Department for Education and Skills, or the majority of [it], severely slim back local education authorities.

[Teachers] are concerned about the consequences for education that the shortage of teachers brings

Doug McAvoy NUT

"They are consuming so much money that would be better spent in classrooms, buying books, paying teachers more.

"Then it is giving parents a greater choice ... that's what's important."

He proposed a voucher system - equivalent to the cost of a state school education - which parents could choose to use in private schools.

Asked about a Sunday Times report that he is in discussions with venture capitalists to set up his own network of schools, Mr Woodhead said: "This is an idea that I'm pursuing.

Private sector competition

"Survey after survey shows that parents want their children to be educated independently.

"I also believe that an expansion in independent education would create competition with the state sector and that competition would help drive up standards."

Appearing on the same programme, NUT general secretary Doug McAvoy said his union would press ahead with a strike in London on Thursday over cost of living allowances.

Mr McAvoy said: "Yes, we will go through with that.

Government failure

"Teachers have voted to take the action.

"They are doing so angry about the failure of the government to increase the allowances by sufficient to make it possible to live in London.

"They are concerned about the consequences for education that the shortage of teachers brings and the very high rate of turnover of teachers in the London area."

"They are doing it largely because of their concern that the education that they are able to give to the youngsters in their schools isn't as good as it would be if we could get sufficient teachers."