Penalising the best in education

In only one aspect of the British education system do we remain world leaders: the independent sector. Until now, that sector has managed to resist most of the malign influences of dumbing down, progressive education  and grade inflation. By responding to parental choice, encouraging achievement and expecting the best for their pupils, independent schools have demonstrated that (as everyone on CentreRight understands) freedom from government intervention leads to the best outcomes

But if the Charity Commission has its way, with the draft guidelines (published today and reviewed in the Telegraph), such freedom will end. Tories may be nervous about defending the private sector lest they be accused of elitism. But we should be in no doubt that penalising success is no way to remedy failure.

Comments

[Sam R]

Isn't it about time that our Education Spokesmen did just that, and (a) condemned the Charity Commissioners for their folly and (b) applauded the independent schools for their service to the country.
Will somebody tell me how much the exchequer saves each year by parents paying for their children's education, bearing in mind that school fees are met out of income AFTER tax?
How many parents, often those of limited means, are driven to sending their children to independent schools because of the abysmal
education that is too often what is provided at the local state school.
I thought that when Willets was dumped following his Grammar Schools debacle we might have been provided with someone on our Front Bench with the ***** to speak up for the decent hard-working and caring parents who want the best for their children. Instead, deafening silence.

[Sean Fear]

It does look like nationalisation by stealth.

[Andrew Hemsted]

Is anyone surprised by this?

The charities commission is just another quango infiltrated by the left over the years once they had realised the public would never fall for their useless ideology.

I was lucky enough to win a scholorship to an Independent Grammer school, and then become the first person in my family to go to university.
The left want to stop this, and have already started when they abolished the assisted places scheme.
Why? It is all down to control. My father is a self employed tradesman, my mother a house wife and part time care worker. My Grandparents worked on the railways, mines and were house wives. All would be considered working class.
And the left want to keep people where they currently are so they can control them, justify large government and ensure a client base that will always elect them.
They have no interest in seeinf people move up our social structure, because if they did their votes would fall.
We need to stick up for the working class in this country, make oursleves the party of the working class by showing people how to better their lives without the government.

It works, as my schooling has proved to me and my family.
We should bring back the assisted places scheme, protect independent schools which are the best, and indeed, through a voucher system encourage the foundation of new schools out of the control of local councils.

[Ewan Wauchope]

Your readers might like to contrast the alacrity with which the Charity commission has pursued the Charitable status and qualification of independent School Charities with the delay and prevarication which has characterised the commission's investigation of The Smith Institute. This Charity, close to Gordon Brown, which has met in Downing street many times and at one time employed Ed Balls was referred to the commission for investigation many months ago.

As yet there has been no response from the Commission who have obviously been too pre-occupied with threatening independent school charities in support of Labour's anti private school philosophy

[Ian McKellar]

To be fair they tried it with Dundee High School and found that they were meeting their charitable obligations.
But it does seem that the Charity Commission is motivated by sheer class hatred. Antonio Gramsci would be proud of them.
It is clear that many such quango's have been inflitrated by the hard left who failing to win elections have sought to undermine and destroy the pillars of society. In education,first they came for the Grammar Schools and mainly succeeded. Too many in our Party did not worry because they believed that the private sector was still there. Well they're now coming for the independent schools. Those in power in or Party have not understood that the best supporter of Indepedent schools is a vibrant and successful Grammar School system.
From our point of view, the policy on extending grammer schools should be quietly revistited and a programme of increasing the number of grammar schools and equally important technical schools re-introduced. In addition, on assuming Government the senior membership of various quangos such as the Charity commisison, the Equal Opportunities Commission, etc. be immediately purged

[C Powell]

All that this bullying may end up achieving is that independent schools stop being charities and become truly independent. Frankly, even though I am educating 3 children privately at eye-watering expense, I would rather that that happened than find good schools subject to bossyboots and ill-intentioned interference by those more interested in social engineering than education. That this will harm the interests of poorer but bright children will not worry the lefties a bit. They're more interested in destroying excellence and attacking the middle classes than in providing genuine opportunities for all.

[Sean Fear]

There are legal difficulties involved in ceasing to be a charity, but I think it can be done.

[Patsy Sergeant]

I agree with Andrew Hemsted @ 16.09, and C. Powell @ 16.47.

I always thought that the Charity Commission was an independent body - not even a quango, I was obviously wrong.

It strikes me that they are being used to 'forward' a social engineering policy of eradication of the independant middle class. This would then be replaced by a lumpen mass of a proletariat (does that ring any bells - it should do!), which is also totally dependent on government.

But as this policy is coming out via the Charity Commission, it means that if it all goes pear-shaped (not unusual with Labour!!!), that the real instigators of this policy, can deny responsibility for it.

[Steevo]

It'd be nice if your Independent school parents could receive a tax break. The government and left media would have a more difficult time exploiting class envy portraying this as elitist. And of course, much more parents would actually choose the non-government alternative. It seems to me an issue the Tories could turn around but I'm looking at this from an American perspective.

[David Belchamber]

Sam R at 16.05;

"Will somebody tell me how much the exchequer saves each year by parents paying for their children's education, bearing in mind that school fees are met out of income AFTER tax?"

Over £2billion a year.