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Legislation is 'damaging independent schools sector'

Posted on 2nd June 2009

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Some of the best foreign pupils are being prevented from attending private schools in the UK, according to one expert.

David Lyscom, head of the Independent Schools Council, will tell the organisation's annual conference in London that border controls are the greatest threat to the future of private education facilities, the Press Association has revealed.

He will say regulation, inspection and monitoring are "essential" in order to protect pupils and maintain principles, but "the burden needs to be simplified and, where risks are low, reduced".

The speaker will highlight the new visa regime as an example of this as it aims to keep illegal workers and potential terrorists from entering the UK.

However, it primarily makes it "very difficult "for Chinese children attend private schools.

"This cannot be right. The message for our politicians is that regulation must be focused and proportionate," he will add.

A recent survey commissioned by website Tom Brown found half of private schools are trying to attract more overseas pupils during the economic downturn, according to the Telegraph.