BATLEY Grammar School may stop charging fees and join the state school system this year.

The proposal is for the changes to be made quickly so the school will have stopped charging its pupils by this September.

It is one of a number of independent schools wanting to scrap their fees and become “free schools” under plans brought in by the Government.

The planned changes come after Education Secretary Michael Gove rushed through legislation shortly after the election to pave the way for parents, charities and businesses to set up independent schools within the state system.

A proposal by the 400-year-old Batley Grammar School to ditch its charges of up to £2,949 per term has been approved by the government to move to an advanced stage with a view to the school joining the state sector in September.

Headteacher Brigid Tullie said: “There are precedents for independent schools moving back to the maintained sector, albeit as academies.

“That has been very positive with many such schools being amongst the most oversubscribed in the country. We intend to follow that success.”

Batley Grammar School was founded in 1612 by the Rev William Lee and an annual founders day service is held in his memory at Batley Parish Church which he requested in his will.

The school was originally a boys’ school, but introduced girls into the sixth form in 1988 and became fully co-educational in 1996.

A junior and infants school called Priestley House after old Batelian Joseph Priestley is set in the grounds.

The free schools idea has met with opposition in some quarters.

The National Union of Teachers warned the Government earlier this month to stop “playing with the educational future of this country” and scrap the plans.

General secretary Christine Blower said the state-funded schools were “not wanted or needed” and claimed parents had not been given enough say on the matter.

Defending the proposals, the Department for Education said free schools would give all parents, not just the rich, the option of a good local school with great teaching, strong discipline and small class sizes.