Leading figures in the private school sector have said it is not necessary for all independent schools to be inspected by Ofsted.

The comments follow a suggestion made by Robert Halfon, chair of the Commons Education Select Committee, who said private schools should be inspected by Ofsted rather than the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Mr Halfon said that after testimonies emerged of sexual abuse among pupils at private schools, highlighted on the website Everyone’s Invited, there should be one inspectorate for all types of school.

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“Given that it looks that safeguarding has fallen short, there should be a fundamental review of school safeguarding and just one body responsible for safeguarding inspection of private schools - Ofsted - rather than the current system, which allows the independent sector to have its own inspection regime,” Mr Halfon wrote in The Sunday Telegraph.

However, leading figures in the independent schools’ sector have said this is not necessary.

Child abuse allegations on Everyone’s Invited website

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, said: “Ofsted already inspects a large number of independent schools. They can be sent into other independent schools if the DfE wants them to. 

“We do not think it is necessary for Ofsted to inspect safeguarding in all schools because the ISI is monitored by the DfE.”

Yesterday, Mr Lenon said he would be happy for there to be an independent inquiry into the allegations “because this is clearly a serious issue which needs to be dealt with across society.”

Simon Hyde, general secretary of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, which represents elite private schools in the UK, said: “As the number of students and former students reporting concerns of misogyny and sexual harassment increases, it is clear that there are issues across the state and independent sectors.

“Safeguarding practice must constantly be kept under review, but I think it is premature to conclude that this is a systemic issue in terms of the inspection of safeguarding.”

The chief executive of the Independent Schools’ Association, Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, said: “ISI and Ofsted are required to inspect schools following the same Independent Schools Standards and Regulations, and the same laws and statutory guidance. ISI inspectors are incredibly thorough, and the benefit to safeguarding children is that ISI inspectors are familiar with the independent sector.”

A spokesperson for the DfE said: “We are very concerned by the significant number of allegations recently posted on the Everyone’s Invited website. The abuse of children and young people in all its forms is abhorrent.

“The vast majority of schools, colleges and universities take their safeguarding responsibilities very seriously, so it is particularly shocking when allegations of abuse are made in connection with a place of education where everyone should feel secure and be protected.

“Working together, the Department for Education, the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs’ Council are in contact with Everyone’s Invited to provide support, protection and advice to those who are reporting abuse, including on contacting professionals or the police if they wish.

“As a government, we are determined to improve outcomes for victims and survivors of all ages and backgrounds. When it comes to abuse, anyone who is worried something isn’t right shouldn’t feel alone. We would encourage anyone in this position to raise their concerns with someone they trust, whether that’s a family member or friend, a teacher or a social worker, a helpline or the police.”

Soma Sara, founder of the Everyone’s Invited website, wrote in The Times that “rape culture is endemic”.

She said there has been a 33 per cent increase in testimonies from the state sector and a 44 per cent increase from universities since 9 March.

Ms Sara said: “It’s in all parts of society, including all universities and all schools. Seeing this long-overdue discussion being narrowed down to private schools is disappointing.”