The Independent Schools Council’s chief executive Julie Robinson has said the portrayal of elite schools, such as those featured in Netflix’s series The Crown, is damaging the public’s perception of the sector, The Telegraph has reported.

Speaking to delegates at the Girls’ Schools Association annual conference in Cirencester last week, Robinson said: “The reality is that we are a small sector with a few wealthy and really strong world-famous schools which are actually a great export for the UK and good for business and across the globe.”

Robinson added that, just like state schools, independent schools “want the best for their schools and communities” and that “it would be nice to be in a world where parents did not have to apologise for sending their children to independent schools”.