Most leading head teachers in England would reject plans put forward by the education secretary to expand their schools, a survey suggests. In a speech last week, Ruth Kelly said she wanted oversubscribed schools to be able to take on more pupils to give parents greater choice.
But the Times Educational Supplement found two-thirds of heads in schools that topped GCSE tables were opposed.
It carried out interviews with those from 45 state secondaries.
Seven heads said they "might consider" expansion and eight were either doing so or planning to do so.
In her first speech as education secretary, Ms Kelly said she was committed to allowing popular schools to expand "more quickly and more easily".
"I take it as a matter of principle that choice should be expanded where we can - so that parents can increasingly choose between excellent local schools," she added.
In response to the survey, a Department for Education and Skills spokesman said: "All successful and popular schools may propose to expand, and we strongly support them in doing so where they believe they can sustain their quality."
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