Industry News
Public benefit and private schools discussed
Posted on 11th December 2007
A Scottish authority has played down fears that British private schools could lose their charitable status.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme Jane Ryder, chief executive of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, said there is no great difference between Scottish and English tests.
"There is not a vast difference between the statutory charity test in Scotland and the English common law test. The parameters are very much the same about there must be benefit for the public," she explained.
Ms Ryder's comments come as the Charity Commission examines the charitable status awarded to independent schools.
It wishes to be sure that such schools do enough for the wider public to justify their charitable status and the tax breaks they receive as a result.
Recently, the Conservative leader David Cameron called on the government to leave private schools alone as they are "doing fine" and to tackle failing comprehensives instead.
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