Best Schools - Don’t bash private schools – they play a vital part in Scottish education.

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Don’t bash private schools – they play a vital part in Scottish education.

Elaine Logan, warden, Glenalmond College argues that while there is no denying that there is a large number of children from wealthy families in independent schools, rising costs, combined with the delayed effects of the economic downturn, mean that the sector as a whole is facing considerable challenges.

Recently, a number of pundits from across the political spectrum have continued to demand that independent schools should either be abolished, on the grounds that their very existence makes greater social equality impossible, or be financially penalised, in order to divert resources into the state education system. The Scottish Government’s intention to implement the Barclay Report, which would see business rates relief removed from independent schools, clearly indicates that it endorses the latter.

At a time when government spending on education has been falling in real terms, the maintained sector needs all the help it can get. By forcing up independent school fees, however, more children will be pushed back into the state system and the financial pressure on the sector will simply grow.

Read more at: https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/elaine-logan-don-t-bash-private-schools-they-play-a-vital-part-in-scottish-education-1-4822238

Independent Schools Council explains that schools are very aware of their duties under the existing money laundering legislation and will respond fully to any changes in law or practice.

Private schools are being used to launder dirty money and will be targeted by the government’s new plan to combat organised crime, a security minister has said.

The new serious and organised crime strategy, published by the Home Office today, comes with a £48 million investment to enhance the law enforcement response to the problem.

Ben Wallace, the minister for security and economic crime, said the government would target bodies like public schools, football clubs and luxury car garages who may facilitate billions in money-laundering but fail to report suspicious activity.

Julie Robinson, general secretary of the Independent Schools Council said “Schools know they must raise Suspicious Activity Reports if they have any concerns over the provenance of the money they are receiving.”

One private school leader reacted angrily to the minister's claim that such schools are being used to launder dirty money.

"Outrageous, insulting, unsubstantiated," tweeted Mike Buchanan, executive director of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the former head of Ashford School in Kent.

Mr Buchanan said the minister had offered no evidence for his claim and urged him not to "spray damaging assertions randomly".

Don&rsquo;t bash private schools &ndash; they play a vital part in Scottish education.

Don’t bash private schools – they play a vital part in Scottish education.