To some, the mention of private schools suggest images of Olympic-style facilities, boaters and stripey blazers. To some, pupils at the schools are arrogant, entitled and lacking in worldliness; parents are similar and willing to use any means necessary to further advantage their child without any concern for others.
Ask most people to name a private school and they will say “Eton”, remembering soon after its more prominent alumni and their Bullingdon club misadventures. What is particularly galling to critics of private schools is our charitable status. Not all independent schools are registered charities but many are, including those which are household names. “How can schools charging tens of thousands of pounds in fees,” they ask, “be considered in the same category as Oxfam or Marie Curie Cancer Care?” It’s a fair question, and one which can’t be easily dismissed given that charitable status confers significant tax relief on business rates and VAT for independent schools. Legally, the question is easy to answer. Education is defined as a charitable endeavour, having tangible benefit to the public. The fact that parents pay for that education does not negate that fact; the law treats feepaying schools in the same way it would treat an organisation which raised funds to build a classroom for orphans in Uganda. However, whilst the legal case is straightforward, the moral argument is a more difficult one to win. According to some, independent schools exist to entrench advantage, and therefore disadvantage, in an already unfair society. The onus remains in those of us who run our schools to justify our charitable status therefore by what we do rather than what we might say. There are many ways in which independent schools can demonstrate public benefit. Aside from general charity work that is done by schools in raising money for other charities, many schools allow others in their communities to use their facilities for free. My own school does this in many ways, such as providing use of the swimming pool to local primary schools but also in hosting events for community groups such as elderly Durham residents. However, whilst these are laudable they do not cut to the heart of the business of what we do as a school – provide an education. Many schools have in their original charters a commitment to educating the poor in the local community and, if we really want to be regarded as charities, it is to that aim we must return. It’s not easy. Bursary programmes are expensive and many schools do not have large foundations or cash reserves with which to fund them. However, most independent schools are putting huge amounts of energy, and resource, to raising money specifically donated to provide places for pupils who would not otherwise be able to attend. This isn’t just lip service either; the heads I meet are wholly committed to widening participation in their schools and to transforming educational opportunities for youngsters in this country. There is a long way to go, but with work and perseverance the profile of independent school alumni will be increasingly diverse. It is important though that this isn’t just cherrypicking the best and brightest from state schools. The best bursary programmes work in partnership with state schools and their pupils. One thing which is crucial for us is that bursary pupils act as ambassadors within their communities and raise aspirations for all youngsters. It is through these actions that independent schools can really be seen to be the charities that we are.