The headmaster of The King’s School has accused the NSW government of creating inconsistent, confusing COVID-19 sport rules that “make no sense” and advantage public schools over private ones.

The furious email, sent to parents on Tuesday, comes as schools involved in the GPS schoolboy sporting association continue fighting for an exemption to a COVID-19 ban on non-local school sports that would allow their winter competitions to continue.

It adds to concern from music groups and year 12 students about bans to woodwind instruments, choirs and graduations that they also argue are stricter inside the school gates than outside them.

King’s headmaster Tony George said NSW Sport and NSW Education had chosen to implement state health guidelines differently, leading to a tighter ban on school teams than club ones. “What we have been seeking from the NSW government for the past week is consistency,” he wrote.

“Either ban sport or don’t. But don’t have double standards that result in inconsistency, confusion and inequity. However, while NSW Sport has been willing to engage in discussion, NSW Education and NSW Health are yet to respond positively.”