A recent editorial made some assumptions about the causes of difficulties between the state and independent educational sectors (“Forget the class warfare and the guilt”). One is that the Charity Commission “fails to rate” collaborative activities between the sectors in relation to public benefit.

Our guidance, assessments and public statements have all clarified that the reverse is true - we encourage fee-charging charities, including independent schools, to be innovative in considering how to maximise the benefits they offer to the public.

Assumptions based on a narrower characterisation of our approach are not helpful to charitable independent schools and the undoubted drive in both sectors to work together.

Andrew Hind, Chief executive, Charity Commission.