New threat to private schools
21 Apr 05
Independent schools face additional hurdle to achieve charitable status
A last-minute amendment to the Charities (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood yesterday could leave parents paying higher fees and some smaller schools facing closure.
Under the new amendment school fee levels will be taken into consideration in awarding charitable status.
Those with higher fees such as Fettes College and Gordonstoun School will find it more difficult to pass the test of public benefit contained in the bill.
Johann Lamont, the Deputy Communities Minister, denied that the Executive was waging a vendetta against private schools.