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Public schools plan 10,000 free places for low-income pupils Private schools plan 10,000 free places for low-income pupils
(about 1 hour later)
Public schools will offer up to 10,000 free places to low-income families every year in England. Private schools will offer up to 10,000 free places to low-income families every year in England.
The Independent Schools Council (ISC) says if the government pays £5,550 per place - the cost in the state system - the schools will cover the rest. This is expected to cost up to £80m.The Independent Schools Council (ISC) says if the government pays £5,550 per place - the cost in the state system - the schools will cover the rest. This is expected to cost up to £80m.
Some pupils would be tested for academic ability, but the scheme would not just target the brightest children.Some pupils would be tested for academic ability, but the scheme would not just target the brightest children.
Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw said the plan was not enough.Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw said the plan was not enough.
The proposal, seen by the BBC, will be made in the ISC's response to a government consultation on the future of education.The proposal, seen by the BBC, will be made in the ISC's response to a government consultation on the future of education.
Primary and secondary school-age children would be eligible to take part.Primary and secondary school-age children would be eligible to take part.
However, details about which families would benefit and what form the tests would take are yet to be settled and the scheme could not take place without the government's approval.However, details about which families would benefit and what form the tests would take are yet to be settled and the scheme could not take place without the government's approval.
'Tax privileges''Tax privileges'
Private schools face a threat to their charitable status, which saves them millions in tax, unless they do more for society. Private schools face a threat to their charitable status, which the ISC says saves schools £150m a year in tax, unless they do more for society.
But Sir Michael said the proposal did not go far enough, adding: "I think they can do better than that and if I was government I would be asking them to do more as a quid pro quo for their tax privileges."But Sir Michael said the proposal did not go far enough, adding: "I think they can do better than that and if I was government I would be asking them to do more as a quid pro quo for their tax privileges."
The ISC says independent schools will also help set up new free schools and academies in areas identified as needing extra help by ministers.The ISC says independent schools will also help set up new free schools and academies in areas identified as needing extra help by ministers.
The government's education consultation, which set out plans for new grammar schools, included demands on independent schools.The government's education consultation, which set out plans for new grammar schools, included demands on independent schools.
It said they must support existing state schools, open new ones or offer funded places to children whose families could not afford fees.It said they must support existing state schools, open new ones or offer funded places to children whose families could not afford fees.
It proposed setting "benchmarks" for public schools, and suggested new legislation could see them stripped of their charitable status if they failed to reach those benchmarks.It proposed setting "benchmarks" for public schools, and suggested new legislation could see them stripped of their charitable status if they failed to reach those benchmarks.
'Crumbs off your tables''Crumbs off your tables'
The ISC said its offer would provide a number of school places equivalent to building 10 state secondary schools.The ISC said its offer would provide a number of school places equivalent to building 10 state secondary schools.
It says it already provides 40,000 bursaries worth £350m, but only 5,500 of these provide fully funded places.It says it already provides 40,000 bursaries worth £350m, but only 5,500 of these provide fully funded places.
Critics have often questioned whether private schools deserve to be charities.Critics have often questioned whether private schools deserve to be charities.
In 2013, Sir Michael told them they were providing no more than the "crumbs off your tables" with support for state schools.In 2013, Sir Michael told them they were providing no more than the "crumbs off your tables" with support for state schools.
If put in place, the proposal would introduce a system similar in scale to the Assisted Places Scheme, which gave more than 75,000 pupils private educations between 1980 and 1998.If put in place, the proposal would introduce a system similar in scale to the Assisted Places Scheme, which gave more than 75,000 pupils private educations between 1980 and 1998.
It was scrapped by Labour to save money that Tony Blair's government said would be spent reducing class sizes in primary schools.It was scrapped by Labour to save money that Tony Blair's government said would be spent reducing class sizes in primary schools.
A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "We welcome contributions to the consultation and will respond in due course."A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "We welcome contributions to the consultation and will respond in due course."