The Independent Schools Council is a politically independent, not-for-profit organisation representing 1,270 independent schools educating more than 500,000 children. It exists to promote choice, diversity and excellence in education, developing talent at all levels of ability and from all backgrounds.

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ISC welcomes Parliamentary Committee report on Charities Bill

30 September 2004

The Independent Schools Council today welcomed publication of the report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee set up to scrutinise the Charities Bill. The Council said:

We are pleased that the Joint Committee has recognised the importance of educational charities.

There is overwhelming evidence of the public benefit provided by ISC schools. They educate half a million pupils at virtually no cost to the public purse, saving the country £2bn a year. Those children are of all abilities and come from a wide variety of backgrounds; nearly a third of them receive help with fees. ISC schools are committed to working as part of the nation's education system and increasing their partnership with maintained schools and the wider community.

We agree with the joint committee that there should be no definition of public benefit on the face of the Charities Bill because it would create inflexibility. We also agree with the committee that giving the responsibility to Ministers to issue guidance would carry the risk of leaving the way open to periodic interference by the government in the definition of what is charitable.

We believe that the Charity Commission, as regulator, should develop standards for assessing public benefit, and we look forward to working with the Commission.