Simon--I doubt that the East Germans ever made much money selling Trabants, but BMW and Mercedes sure made a packet. Why do you suppose that profit-making firms should be excluded from education? Would you rather your children received a Trabant-quality education, just for the sake of ideology?

Tom Burkard, Norwich,

Heads (with governors) should have control of their budgets, which means the power to hire the staff that they want and to pay them the market rate. However this can be done without involving the private sector.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

I remember a much-loved moment from the BBC Elizabeth R series. The courtiers were all happily plotting together when the Bishop of Something-or-other couldn't take it any more. "But this is -- heresy!" he hissed.

Christopher Chantrill, Seattle, USA

What is with the Tories trying to adopt the Bush Neo-Con mantra of private private private. Now they will be open to attack for a hidden agenda to privatize NHS & other things. The Neo-Con agenda is dead. This move is just stupid. The Tories seem determined to snatch Defeat from the jaws of Victory

Jason Pearson, Toronto, Canada

Great - hot on the heels of "we'll close many schools classed by Ofsted as good/ outstanding". Can't wait for next iniative/ product of thinktank.

diana bruce, derby,

The maximisation of use of assets is a good idea - but not running everything for profit - look at public transport!

Chris, Birmingham,

I am leaving Qatar since GEMS (Global Education Management Services) they of the Milton Keynes fiasco, have failed to increase the salary sufficiently to keep track of the dollar slump and inflation. They will not pay as profit comes first! They also have a staff of very tanned ex heads to support.

chris, Al Khor, Qatar

I would be more suprised if the Teacher's union supports the suggestion. We know there are now more poorly qualified teachers than before. The various Employment Laws introduced by this government has made the sacking of teachers impossible.

m, london,

How long before they end up as religious schools? What ever happened to church and state being separate, like it should be? Whatever happened to service, with things run by the state, like schools, public transport, post offices, electricity, gas, etc,were not failures if they did not make a profit?

margie , victoria, australia

Oh god NO! Privitization is NOT the answer! Did it work with the rail industry? Did it hell. All this is doing is putting government (taxpayer) funds into the hands of for-profit industry, whose agenda is to create worker bees for their industry, not teach children to be thinking, independant adults

Stephanie, Bristol, UK

Stupid idea. The best schools are independent schools and they are all charities NOT businesses. All state schools should be turned into charities - they already have a board of governors. They can be financed by vouchers, sponsorship, top up fees and scholarships.

william Haines, Northwood,

it's been said before but i'll repeat it; how can you judge a teacher. every class is different. it's like asking how long is a piece of string. and to paraphrase juvenal "who will judge the judges?" i suppose they'll want those leading examples of private enterprise, the bankers, to run things.

Philip Barnes, preston, england

"State education is about social justice and protecting the weak, vulnerable and disadvantaged."

Is that why it no longer educates?

RJA, Fleet,

Good idea! Perhaps then they would be as efficient as the trains, and hospital cleaning, and rubbish collection, and traffic wardens...

Kevin Straw, Leicester,

Schools are bad due to much goverment interferance, they have removed all the tool's to control disruptive children and then put more special needs kids then ever in main stream.

100% selection in schools are the way forwards, it may upset some, but your child is holding others back, simple as.

MR W Jones, Liverpool, England

It is essential that weak and incompetent teachers are removed from their jobs swiftly. It is also essential that weak and incompetent teachers do not get passed on, as it were, to other schools. I can see merit in this proposal.

Des, Edinburgh,

If the teaching unions are dead set against an idea then its probably because its against the average to bad teachers' interests. Unions are there to protect their members - and its generally the poor ones that need 'protection.' Sounds like this idea would improve education & give choice to parents

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

Remove all poor heads and bad teachers and schools will be left with few adults apart from the ancillaries. What education needs is simple - properly-educated teachers with proper degrees teaching proper subjects under heads who enforce proper discipline.

Jan Thomas, Nottingham, England

The Tories are out of touch. State schools are so bad because there is no real parental choice and schools have been nationalized and run with political priorities. Get rid of all barriers on parental choice and let the schools run themselves and they will improve and be like independents.

George, Bolton, England

It really is imperative for the success of the education system in the UK that teachers are much easier to remove than they are at the moment. Bad teachers, when they are at last recognised, are too difficult to get rid of. It's the children who then suffer...

Matthew Jones, Newcastle-under-Lyme, United Kingdom

Ouch. At a time when we are in need of real alternatives to the Labour party we are offered this. An awful idea. Company profits first education quality and kids second,

simon, Battersea, London,