Keir Bloomer, a former leader of the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland, has given his support to an overhaul of how Scotland's schools are run.

Mr Bloomer, who is now an advisor to the Scottish Government, believes charitable trusts and not-for-profit companies should be allowed to run schools.

"The problem with the current structure is that it is too top down - that inhibits initiative at school level - what I want to see is schools more empowered to make decisions for themselves," said Mr Bloomer.

Seeking the establishment of a commission to investigate how schools can best be run in the future, Mr Bloomer says clusters of schools should be allowed to take control of non-academic activities such as catering.

The proposal echoes the policies of the last Conservative government, which gave schools the right to self-govern. Just a handful of schools applied to do so - including Dornoch Academy in the Highlands, though it later returned to local council control.

Drew Morrice of the Education Institute of Scotland believes the proposed changes would be detrimental. He said: "You will add to the bureacracy of schools. You will take headteachers away from directing the curriculum into managing and employing staff, into complex areas of contract law, and hiring of all the people who provide services to calls."

Education Secretary Michael Russell MSP was also sceptical, saying: "I think there is a mood for greater power within schools by headteachers but I'm utterly unconvinced that headteachers and schools want to pay their own heating bills or order the catering. I don't think that's where the argument is."

However Conservative MSP Liz Smith said: "These are very welcome comments from Keir Bloomer. If we are prepared to allow schools and their headteachers more freedom to make their own decisions then schools can only flourish. The one-size-fits-all system of schooling in Scotland is failing too many of our young people.

“Scottish Conservatives believe we need to end local authority monopoly of educational provision and urgently transform the management of schools. Our headteachers and parents must decide what is best for our children.”