Private school axes fees to become state-funded academy A HMC source said: "You are seeing the biggest impact on independent education in those regions that are heavily dependent on public sector jobs. As spending on the public sector is reduced, so parents are choosing to withdraw children from independent education because it is seen as the ultimate discretionary spend. Liverpool College - founded in 1840 - will maintain its existing governing body, curriculum, school year and teaching staff. But it will scrap its current fees to accept funding directly from the Government and come under the Ofsted inspection regime. The college will increase from 730 to 1,126 pupils over a five-year period. As part of the move, it will retain a separate fee-paying boarding school, principally for international students. Ian Evans, the school's chairman of governors, said: "We have taken a prudent long-term look at the choices for our future development, and this process has culminated in us securing an agreement with the Department for Education to convert into a publicly funded independent academy. The Government's programme for educational change provides opportunities for independent schools to play an active part in the reform of education and curricula generally, and specifically in improving educational opportunities for all. The move is also likely to prompt an internal debate within HMC, which represents some of the most famous independent schools in the country, including Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Wellington and Charterhouse. Some figures within the organisation believe that smaller schools on the verge of ditching their independent status should be denied membership - ensuring a focus remains on the biggest and most successful private schools. In an official statement, HMC said: "Liverpool College is a fine school with a proud and important history. We entirely support the right of the head and governors to choose the strategic direction that will, in their view, best confirm the long-term future of the school and of its students. We wish them every success in their new status as an academy and we look forward to continuing a close and supportive relationship with them.