Education in Bracknell

I note the comments in last week's Bracknell Standard by the Headmaster of
Wellington College, Dr Seldon, that schools independent of the state sector "cream off the best pupils, the best teachers, the best facilities and the best university places". I commend his honesty.

What seems truly awful is that these schools are still given charitable status by the Government. The effect of this privilege is that charitable status saves independent schools £100 million each year in tax breaks. Why should already over-taxed UK citizens subsidise those rich enough to pay for their children to get the educational benefits described by Dr Seldon?

When the Labour Party came to power in 1997, it had been said that something would be done about this anomalous situation. It was a broken promise, possibly because Tony Blair was himself a pupil at a top independent school. Of course the Conservatives would not change things as so many members of David Cameron's Shadow Cabinet went to Eton and the like.

As with lots of other longstanding political nonsense, (e.g. Members of Parliament deciding their own pay and pensions) this is something that needs changing. The rich should not be allowed to get richer in this way.

David Young
The Green Party General Election candidate for Bracknell.