Education secretary Charles Clarke has paid tribute to Brighton College head Anthony Seldon but rejected his ideas to overhaul schools' funding.

Addressing headteachers from public schools around the country at the college's independent education conference yesterday, Mr Clarke listed some of the political historian's work during the last 20 years, including a biographical study of Sir Winston Churchill and a history of the Conservative party.

He said: "You have been not only a prolific publisher and distinguished historian but a very enthusiastic advocate of dialogue concerning the place of independent education."

He disagreed, however, with Dr Seldon's view that parents should pay towards the cost of their children's education according to a means test. He said the plan, which would mean an end to free education in state schools, would never be Government policy.

Mr Clarke said: "One of Anthony's great strengths is that he puts forward exciting views and says let's discuss it. I wish everyone did that and did it in such a challenging way."

Mr Clarke set out the Government's position for building bridges between the public and state schools.

He said: "There are two possible approaches - a separate independent sector, offering scholarships to a few, very able pupils from the maintained sector or working in partnership to reach the many, not the few, valuing difference, tradition and excellence."

The choice was up to schools but he urged them to opt for partnership.

He added: "I also want to challenge you to take the route of partnerships with the state sector in areas such as professional development, the curriculum, subject specialism, sponsoring academies and sharing your facilities."

Mr Clarke suggested more independent schools should follow the example of those sponsoring the new city academies which the Government was establishing to raise standards in inner cities.

He announced £1.4 million for more than 40 new partnership projects between schools in the two sectors, including £178,000 to expand co-operation between public and state schools in Sussex.

He also announced a scheme allowing sixth-form state pupils to take some courses at private schools with their fees paid by the Government.

The move marks a major departure for Labour, which abolished the Tories' assisted places scheme under which pupils from less well-off families received state help.

Earlier delegates had been entertained by former BBC and ITV chief political correspondent John Sergeant.

He told the audience: "Many have noticed I'm not reporting day-to-day from Westminster any more and wonder what I miss most.

"I think it's the cheery policeman who used to say, 'Hello Mr Sergeant. May I check your identification?'"

He described his relationship with former No 10 spokesman Alastair Campbell as "very close - like the torturer and his victim".

He said: "I remember covering a political visit in Okinawa. I saw the Prime Minister coming towards me. Being in Japan I decided perhaps I should bow. So I bowed low and this voice appeared from behind me. It was Alastair Campbell saying, 'Lower, Sergeant, lower'."