THE Education Secretary praised independent schools yesterday for helping children to become more rounded individuals by teaching sport, music and drama and allowing them to develop the social skills needed in the workplace.

Alan Johnson, the MP for Hull West and Hessle, is widely tipped as Labour’s next deputy leader. He made the comments a day after revealing that he had appealed to a private school to admit the gifted son of a constituent because there were no suitable state schools in the area.

His speech to the National Family and Parenting Institute in London irritated teachers’ unions and leftwingers.

He told parents: “One of the reasons why independent schools get such good results, apart from the level of selection and the extra resources, is the time they spend with children doing sport, music and drama, building social skills, confidence and team-working.

“This helps children develop not just academic and vocational skills but social skills as well. These skills are vital in today’s workforce where the ability to communicate, interact and engage are essential — they are the skills which employers increasingly look for first.”

Mr Johnson said that schools could play a role in the community and help children to develop not just academic and vocational skills, but also social skills.

The former postman and grammar school boy said that some primary schools were trying to develop good team-working and communication skills in young children through the “seal” programme, which is on trial in Nottingham.

In February, the managers of 222 top businesses said that they did not expect to receive applications from graduates “with the correct skills”. The reason, they said, was that students spent too much time studying and not enough time joining clubs, where they might learn how to work in teams and give presentations. Poor spelling, grammar and arithmetic were also problems.

John McDonnell, the Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington and a fierce opponent of private schools, dismissed Mr Johnson’s comments. He said: “It runs counter to all the evidence . . . that comprehensive education builds up social cohesion, whereas private education reinforces the divisions.”

Teachers’ leaders said that the minister had shown naivety. Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said that one of the biggest selling points of private schools was smaller class sizes, which made it easier for teachers to give pupils more individual attention. “Reducing class sizes has a direct impact on the time teachers can spend with children,” he said. The only limit on class sizes for state schools was 30 for children aged 5 to 7.

Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “We think there are a lot of independent schools which provide an excellent education and we would really love state schools to have the resources to do the same.”

Mr Johnson’s speech was edited before being posted on his department’s website. The edited version omitted any reference to independent schools.When asked why, an adviser said: “This should be as delivered — but some of the party political sections have been removed for propriety reasons.”

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