Private school fees are beyond most parents' means

The Sutton Trust, a charity which gives deprived children access to independent schools, is calling for the government to fund places.

Its survey, carried out by Mori on 644 parents, found 28% would be quite likely, and 22% very likely, to choose a private education, if affordable.

The average independent school fee is currently more than �3,000 a term.

'Apartheid'

The Sutton Trust found 29% of parents probably would not - and 15% definitely would not - educate their children privately, whatever the cost. The remaining 6% were unsure.

But 62% of parents said state pupils were disadvantaged compared with those at private schools when applying for university.

The Sutton Trust co-funds a �2m-a-year scheme offering "open access" to the independent Belvedere School for girls in Liverpool.

The families of more than 70% of its pupils receive help with fees.

This, the trust says, has resulted in a wider social mix than before.

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It wants the government to provide aid to independent schools so they can follow Belvedere's example.

Earlier this month, the Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, called for a widening of collaboration between the education sectors.

'Merit'

He revealed the government would fund state pupils to attend independent schools at the age of 16 for teaching in certain subjects, such as classics and further maths.

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, said: "Open access at independent secondary schools for our most able children is only a step away from this and, as the Mori survey shows, it would have the support of the majority of parents in this country.

"Opening up 100% of the places at our top independent schools, on the basis of merit and regardless of income, would change the nature of those schools and would lead to the removal of the unparalleled educational apartheid which exists in this country."

The Mori survey, carried out between 29 April and 4 May around the UK, found 47% of parents agreed children should have the opportunity to attend private schools, at taxpayers' expense, regardless of family income. Meanwhile, 30% disagreed.

The lowest level of agreement with the plan was among the highest social class group.

A Department for Education and Skills spokesman said: "This will be best state-educated generation in our country's history."

He added: "It's not a question of either/or. We want to make every state school a good one and then encourage partnerships between independent and state sectors.

"There are lots of innovative schemes going on in areas such as music, sport and science. The point is to get both sectors working together to help all pupils."

The most recent figures from the Independent Schools Council show average fees are now �3,074 a term.

Boarding fees were up 9.1% to �5,909 from the beginning of 2003 to the beginning of 2004, while rates at day schools rose 10.1% to �2,429.

The Mori survey also showed one in two parents were comfortable with the concept of selection by ability at age 11 or 12, with 36% opposed.