Industry News
Independent schools charitable status questioned
Posted on 21st August 2007
Charities regulator Dame Suzi Leather has suggested yearly increases of the threshold at which independent schools qualify for charitable status to ensure schools benefit their communities.
Dame Leather is the chairperson of the Charity Commission and told the Times private schools could have to provide more places for children from poorer backgrounds in order to qualify for tax breaks.
She added schools would have to do more than open up playing fields and laboratories to local comprehensives.
"It's difficult to see how opening up a school playing field for one Sunday afternoon a year could in any way come close to justifying charitable status," she said.
However, the Times reports Dame Leather has declared herself unable to take part in decisions over the issue as her daughter attends a private school.
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the regulator and registrar of the sector. Charities with yearly incomes of more than £10,000 must send their accounts to the commission which makes them publicly available.