Private boarding schools should give places to children in care says minister

Private schools should provide boarding places for thousands of children from the care system to boost their life chances, an education minister has urged.

Nadhim Zahawi called for more independent schools to give places to vulnerable youngsters in children’s homes and with foster carers.

It follows a pilot which saw Norfolk County Council place 52 vulnerable or ‘at risk’ children in boarding schools over a ten-year period.

MP Nadhim Zahawi called for more independent schools to give places to vulnerable youngsters in children’s homes and with foster carers. (Stock photo)

The council found that nearly two-thirds came off the ‘at risk’ register after three years, while GCSE grades improved substantially when compared with the wider cohort of ‘at risk’ children.

Leading private schools such as Eton and Rugby have already signed up to offer places. 

But Mr Zahawi said more should do so to prove they help society and were worthy of their charitable status, which gives them tax breaks.

He said schools could ensure their survival in the event of a Labour government coming to power by showing they were helping vulnerable children. 

At last year’s general election, Labour indicated they would abolish VAT-free school fees.

Mr Zahawi told BBC’s Newsnight: ‘We should be providing the best opportunities for these kids, not simply managing them. 

The suggestion follows a pilot which saw Norfolk County Council place 52 vulnerable or ‘at risk’ children in boarding schools over a ten-year period. The council found that nearly two-thirds came off the ‘at risk’ register after three years. (Stock photo)

The suggestion follows a pilot which saw Norfolk County Council place 52 vulnerable or ‘at risk’ children in boarding schools over a ten-year period. The council found that nearly two-thirds came off the ‘at risk’ register after three years. (Stock photo)

‘If the independent sector becomes embedded in the infrastructure that delivers the best outcome to these kids, there is no better way than them making the argument for their charitable status, for their VAT exemptions. 

‘And Mr Corbyn would never be able to abolish them.’

So far, 40 independent schools have signed up to the Boarding School Partnership, which provides places for looked-after children. 

Local authorities pay 60 per cent of the fees – with individual schools providing a bursary of 40 per cent.

Francis Green, of the Centre for Global Higher Education, said: ‘I would be in favour of a broader scheme that would partially integrate the schools into the state education system. 

For example, one-third of their places would be paid for by the state at the same rate as the state pays for educating all other children and they would choose who goes to those schools.’

 



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