Labour are warming that private schools will have to do more to help state schools or risk losing tax breaks, should they win the general election next year.
Private Schools Should Help State Education Or Lose Tax Breaks
Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt is due to set out a part of his plan should Labour win the general election in a speech today, and private schools have come under fire as he tries to close the gap between private and state education.
Mr Hunt believes that there are barriers in the British education system and he is looking to improve the system should Labour win power, and he is planning to make private schools a huge part of that plan. Should they fail to help improve the education system in state schools, they will axe the £700 million of tax breaks that would be earned by private schools during the next parliament.
In the speech today, Mr Hunt will say: "The division between state and private education corrodes our society, stifles opportunity and, by wasting talent, inflicts damage upon our economy. Some private schools want to overcome this division, but most do not. It is time to stop asking politely".
Education is always a key point in the fight for Number 10, and Labour have revealed that they want to set up a new Schools Partnership Standard, private schools would only receive their tax relief if they agree to the new scheme.
This new scheme would encourage teachers being sent into state schools to teach subjects that are not on the state syllabus. State schools would receive further help to get more pupils into higher education and university.
It is believed that only 3% of private schools in England currently sponsor an academy while just 5% lend them teaching staff.
However, Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, has hit out at Mr Hunt's new plans saying that many private schools are already doing their bit in helping state education.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Lenon are said: "Independent schools are committed to helping widen access to their schools and to improving social mobility. Already 90% of our schools are involved in meaningful and effective partnerships with state schools and their local communities.
"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. Clawing back business rate relief on independent schools seems a very ineffective tool to improve social mobility in any meaningful way."