David Cameron 'terrified' by state school search

DAVID Cameron has said he is "terrified" by the prospect of trying to find a good state secondary school for his children.

The Prime Minister said that, living in central London, he sympathised with parents in areas where there was no choice of decent schools.

"I've got a six-year-old and a four-year-old and I'm terrified living in central London," he said. "Am I going to find a good secondary school for my children? I feel it as a parent, let alone as a politician."

Eton-educated Mr Cameron has said in the past he wants his children to go through the state system.

His six-year-old daughter Nancy already goes to a state primary - St Mary Abbots in Kensington. He also has a four-year-old son, Elwen, and wife Samantha is expecting another child in September.

Mr Cameron said: "In some parts of the country, there isn't a choice of good schools. That's why people break the bank to send their children private."

Westminster City Council, Mr Cameron's local education authority, insisted its schools were providing "first-rate education".

It invited him to send his children to one of its primaries. St Mary Abbots is in the neighbouring borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Nickie Aiken, Westminster's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "We welcome the Prime Minister's interest in improving central London education. We can assure him that our schools are delivering first-rate education every day.

"We are proud that several of our secondary schools are considered outstanding by Ofsted.

"We acknowledge that there is still room for improvement and will continue to strive to build on our success to date.

"We would be delighted if the current Prime Minister followed in the footsteps of his two immediate predecessors and sent his children to Westminster state primaries.