ISC gives evidence at Select Committee hearing on public benefit

2 July 2008

The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) this week continues its examination of the impact of the public benefit test on charities.

The Committee is meeting today, Wednesday 2 July, at 3:30pm to discuss the impact of the public benefit test on independent schools. Witnesses will be: Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas, Chairman, Independent Schools Council (ISC), Dr Anthony Seldon, Master, Wellington College and Sir Simon Jenkins, author and columnist.

Speaking today, ISC Acting Chief Executive, Matthew Burgess said:

"Independent schools take the issue of public benefit extremely seriously. Indeed, almost all the outcomes sought by the Charity Commission such as widening access, community engagement and social responsibility are not only shared by schools but are at the very core of how they see themselves. Further, we strongly believe that, as a statement of best practice, the Commission's guidance describes many of the activities our schools are already involved with."

ISC will respond in full to the Charity Commission public benefit consultations by 11 July.

Ends

Notes to editors

Independent Schools Council (ISC)
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is a politically independent, not-for-profit umbrella body, representing around 1300 independent schools educating more than 500,000 children in the UK and Ireland. ISC schools include the well-known boarding schools, though the majority of ISC schools are day schools with strong local reputations. ISC schools cover the entire academic range and take pupils from a broad cross- section of backgrounds, with nearly a third of children receiving help with fees. Overall, ISC exists to promote choice, diversity and excellence in education; the development of talent at all levels of ability; and the widening of opportunity for children from all backgrounds to achieve their potential.

The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC)
PASC will next week continue its short examination of the impact of the "public benefit" test on charities, interviewing other fee-charging charities, which range from care homes to arts charities. Witnesses will be: David Mobbs, Chief Executive, Nuffield Hospitals, Ruth Jarratt, Director of Policy Development, Royal Opera Hous, Stephen Lloyd, Senior Partner, Bates Wells & Braithwaite.

The Committee's inquiry will conclude in the autumn with evidence from the Charity Commission. For more information about the work of the Committee, visit www.parliament.uk/pasc
Watch committees and parliamentary debates online: www.parliamentlive.tv

Charitable status: Facts

  • Value of bursaries provided by independent schools: £350m pa (ISC Annual Census 2008)
  • Number of pupils benefiting from bursaries: 160,000 (31.2%) of which125,000 (24.5%) receive financial assistance from the school as opposed to other sources of funding (ISC Annual Census 2008)
  • Saving to taxpayer of independent schools: Over £2bn each year
  • Approx 490,000 children at ISC schools have entitlement to state school place
  • Social mix of ISC schools: 1 in 4 pupils comes from postcodes on or below average national income

Press enquiries
Alexandra Caish, Head of Press, Independent Schools Council
Telephone: (office) 020 7766 7060 (mobile) 07825 806017
Fax: 020 7766 7071
email: alex.caish@isc.co.uk
Website: www.isc.co.uk