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Charitable schools status threat Change urged for private schools
(about 3 hours later)
Four of Scotland's leading private schools are to be warned they could lose their charitable status unless they make changes, the BBC understands. Four of Scotland's leading private schools have been told they must implement changes in order to keep their charitable status.
The affected schools are Hutchesons' Grammar in Glasgow, Lomond school in Helensburgh, St Leonards in St Andrews and Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh.The affected schools are Hutchesons' Grammar in Glasgow, Lomond school in Helensburgh, St Leonards in St Andrews and Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh.
They now face losing the charitable status which gives them thousands of pounds a year in tax relief. The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) said that on balance "they do not provide public benefit".
Parents may have to pay higher school fees as a result. It added it expected to see changes within "a reasonable time period".
The charities regulator will tell the schools that they do not meet the necessary criteria for charitable status. OSCR's chief executive Jane Ryder said that after looking at the four institutions it was concluded that the public benefit test was not met.
Certain private schools are so elitist that I can't see how they can maintain charitable status Christine Grahame MSP She added that the failure was mainly due to significant fees and the fact there was not sufficient help in place for those who could not pay the fees.
However, it is believed they may be able to hold on to their status if they can increase the number of bursaries they offer to children from low income families. These are among the best schools in Scotland, produce the best exam results and relieve the taxpayer of a huge amount of money Frank GerstenbergFormer head at George Watson's College
Ms Ryder said: "We are not dictating a particular business model to the charities and there are different ways in which they can address our concerns.
"But we are looking for an early acknowledgement of the intention to introduce changes and for implementation within a reasonable time period."
Under new rules private schools must be able to demonstrate they have a charitable aim and serve a cross-section of the public by offering places to children from disadvantaged families, or making their facilities available to the local community.Under new rules private schools must be able to demonstrate they have a charitable aim and serve a cross-section of the public by offering places to children from disadvantaged families, or making their facilities available to the local community.
A total of 11 private schools across Scotland have been inspected by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) to see whether they qualify as charities.A total of 11 private schools across Scotland have been inspected by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) to see whether they qualify as charities.
Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that some "elitist" private schools did not deserve to receive charitable tax breaks.Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that some "elitist" private schools did not deserve to receive charitable tax breaks.
'Best schools' 'So elitist'
She added: "A charity must have a wider public benefit, and if the fees are restrictive such as, for instance, they are at Gordonstoun - where I understand it is about £18,000 a year - then they must have more bursaries and be more open to the public.She added: "A charity must have a wider public benefit, and if the fees are restrictive such as, for instance, they are at Gordonstoun - where I understand it is about £18,000 a year - then they must have more bursaries and be more open to the public.
"Apparently the schools that have been listed this morning have failed some or all of those tests."Apparently the schools that have been listed this morning have failed some or all of those tests.
"Certain private schools are so elitist that I can't see how they can maintain charitable status. The huge tax breaks they get are public money that is subsidising really quite well-off people.""Certain private schools are so elitist that I can't see how they can maintain charitable status. The huge tax breaks they get are public money that is subsidising really quite well-off people."
But Frank Gerstenberg, former principal at George Watson's College in Edinburgh, said private schools actually benefit the taxpayer.But Frank Gerstenberg, former principal at George Watson's College in Edinburgh, said private schools actually benefit the taxpayer.
He added: "These are among the best schools in Scotland, produce the best exam results and relieve the taxpayer of a huge amount of money because parents are already paying for their children to be educated in the state system but choose not to."He added: "These are among the best schools in Scotland, produce the best exam results and relieve the taxpayer of a huge amount of money because parents are already paying for their children to be educated in the state system but choose not to."