The head of Ofsted has accused private schools of hoarding education and not doing enough to help teachers and pupils in their state counterparts.

Sir Michael Wilshaw was speaking at the Headmasters and Headmistresses' Conference and explained that according to the Independent Schools Council, only 34 private schools sponsor or co-sponsor an academy. This equates to less than three per cent of members, while only five per cent send staff on teaching jobs to state schools when needed.

He told 250 headteachers of top private schools: "I'm sorry to say, but the ISC's list of activities is hardly evidence of a comprehensive commitment to partnership with state schools. It's thin stuff. These are crumbs off your table, leading more to famine than feast." 

The Ofsted chief said this was his Lord Kitchener moment and asked the private heads to search their consciences.

Sir Michael accused some private schools of refusing to help state schools further as they believe they either do enough already, their governors or parents will frown upon the action, or simply because they are not sure they are capable of teaching state school children, adding these sentiments were both disappointing and frustrating. 

His argument outlined that state schools are not truly independent, as teacher's pensions are subsidised by the taxpayer and the majority of their staff underwent teacher training at public expense.

Some private heads took objection. Martin Reader, head of Wellington School in Somerset, said local state schools had turned down his offers to help, while Barnaby Lenon, former head of Harrow School and chair of the ICS, said the speech was "offensive" to the private schools that do work alongside the state. 

As a teacher or somebody looking for a teaching job, what are your feelings on the relationship between private and state schools? Should private schools do more to help teachers and pupils in state-run schools that are struggling in the wake of the government's austerity measures?