Labour’s Plans to Refuse Private Schools a Tax Break is “Patronising Nonsense”

By Independent School Parent | Tue 25th Nov 2014

Chairman of the Independent Schools Council, Barnaby Lenon, in conversation with Dr Hunt on Radio 4’s Today Programme, responded by saying that “pointing the finger at independent schools” is “a very ineffective tool to improve social mobility in any meaningful way”.

Dr Hunt – himself the product of private school University College School, London – claims that independent schools are acting like an “old-fashioned trade union” and are not doing enough to earn their “subsidy”.

Private schools across Britain can claim up to 80% in business rates because they are charities. Last year about 2,500 private schools saved a total of £165 million in this way.

Labour’s plans will require independent schools to pass a “school partnership standard”, forcing them to meet certain conditions with the aim of supposedly improving interactions with state schools. One such condition will include sending specialist independent teachers into government-funded schools.

Dr Hunt argued that there existed a real need for Labour’s plans, saying that too many private schools offered only a “charade” of minimal help for children and families unable to afford their fees.

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, hit back, pointing out that “last year Oxford University found that a third of its poorest students had been to independent schools.”

“He needs to be careful not to set up a false argument… does Dr Hunt think that when Mr Chips from the independent schools drifts in to teach a bit of History at the local state school because his head has told him to under instruction from Dr Hunt that this is going to transform the relationship between state and private school? I think it’s patronising nonsense.”

Lenon convincingly exposed the holes in Hunt’s argument, revealing Labour’s obvious contempt for the reality if such plans were to go ahead, commenting, “independent schools generate £4.7bn in tax and save the taxpayer a further £4bn, equivalent to building 460 schools, by educating children out of the state school sector.”

“I share with Dr Hunt his ambition to ensure that all pupils, whatever type of school they go to, can aspire to great things, but pointing the finger at independent schools is a 1980s view of education… claiming back business rate relief on independent schools seems a very ineffective tool to improve social mobility in any meaningful way.”

Related articles

New report demonstrates the significant impact of independent schools on the British economy

Are Private Schools Creating an Elitist Society?

How to Save on your School fees