This website uses cookies for anonymised analytics and for account authentication. See our privacy and cookies policies for more information.





The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Poll: should private schools be stripped of charity status?

This poll is over 6 years old
 

News that private schools are to be stripped of charitable tax breaks has brought the charity status of private schools back into focus.

On the back of the Barclay Review of business rates, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) chief executive said: “SCVO has long believed that private schools are not genuine third sector organisations.”

Private schools having charity status entitles them to a range of tax breaks – but many question whether it is fair that inherently elitist institutions get these perks.

There are also issues about whether private schools’ charity status tarnishes the charity brand.

The schools themselves say they do social good by taking children out of the state sector – effectively relieving strain on the public purse.

What do you think? Should private schools be stripped of charity status?

Vote now and get the debate going by leaving a comment below.

Should private schools be stripped of charity status?

Yes
294
No
77
Options
Voting in this poll has now closed
 

Comments

0 0
William Douglas
over 6 years ago
No school should pay business rates. Strip state schools of the need to pay business rates and level the playing field that way.
0 0
Rachel Thain-Gray
over 6 years ago
If your "service" isn't for social good for everyone and doesn't address social injustice, as charities should, you don't deserve the tax breaks. We need more money coming into the public purse for public services for people who are remote from privilege.
0 0
Peter Le Riche
over 6 years ago
It is a ridiculous argument to say that public schools take the strain off comprehensive ones. Public Schools cause division, elitism, inequality. If the money spent on public schools went into the comprehensive system we would all be much richer, nicer, fairer and have a healthier society. One that is progressive.
0 0
Ron Carthy
over 6 years ago
"Charitable" status helps keep down fees for those few who can afford to pay for the advantages to their children that attendance at a private school brings. It's a hidden state subsidy to the privileged. End it now.
0 0
Carolyn Yates
over 6 years ago
I was educated in private schools. I taught in one. They are NOT charities and do very little charitable work. In my experience they don't even encourage their pupils to volunteer for charities in the way state schools do.
0 0
Sharon
over 6 years ago
Private school, and colleges too! This is all about profit, and has never been about charity! I work in the sector for the sector and I have never classed private schools, colleges or aleos charities! We need to look at all different types of schools who consider themselves charities too!
Commenting is now closed on this post