Covid-19 tax reprieve for private schools is ridiculous

The Scottish Government announced something of a reprieve for private schools. Instead of having their tax breaks reduced this September they will keep their relief on non-domestic rates until next April to help them during the pandemic. We must all recognise we’re in a global crisis, with no industry left untouched. So the schools want support from the government because their income, like so many other organisations’ revenue streams, is taking a hit. That’s understandable, right?

Well, no. It’s ridiculous.

Tax them, and tax them now.

Their charitable status is, in itself, a scandalous feature of the inequalities that have blighted Scotland for generations. These are lucrative concerns with connections to many of the most privileged and wealthy people in society, so if any industry can weather a storm it’s this one.

And it is an industry. Take, for example, Gordonstoun School in Moray, where Prince Charles spent a miserable time, calling it “Colditz in kilts”. If you want your sprog to go there it’ll cost about £30,000 a year – unless they’re a boarder, which puts the bill up to about £41,000. There are about 500 boarders and 100 day pupils. Even if you subtract the bursaries, that’s a lot of hockey sticks.

Are we expected to believe the upper classes would fail to support these schools through the pandemic?

Any business with that kind of cashflow and customer base would be well-placed to get through a difficult year or two, and these schools have already been sheltered from economic hardships for too long.

I understand the smaller schools are less resilient but, overall, it’s a strong sector of the economy.

In December the private schools estimated that, together, the changes to the tax regime would cost them £37 million over five years. Divided up among all 102, it’s going to have a negligible effect – and that £37m could be put to work in underfunded state schools, or perhaps to support people who really are struggling to survive the economic hardship of Covid-19.

Don’t wait until April: Tax them now. If we must wait until April, let’s have no further reprieves.

Their charitable status is, in itself, a scandalous feature