Rates should apply to all schools equally

Sir, – In reply to the letters on non-domestic rates law changes, and the affect on the independent schools, (The Courier, February 5), from Mr Wilkin and Mr Linberg.

There can be no disputing the basic processes of wood work, “measure twice and cut once”, which is a valuable lesson we all learned.

I also remember being taught by my mother that if I wanted something special, I had to save for it or do without something else – another valuable lesson. In this instance, independent schools may well provide a valuable education.

However, public schools also do this, and under much more trying circumstances, yet are not exempt from nondomestic rates.

Hence, teachers at public schools frequently supplement their school stationery cupboards during weekly visits to their local supermarket.

The Barclay review from 2017 concluded clearly and I quote, ‘ALEOs (Arms Length

Executive Organisations) should compete on a fair and level playing field with commercial providers of culture and leisure services, just as independent schools should suffer business rates in the same way that maintained schools do’.

The writers also seem to imply that with no independent schools, these “high flying pupils” would not develop or indeed exist.

This is a totally flawed narrative and an excuse to support the status quo.

The Tory government has been lambasting the current educational conveyor belt of independent school, a degree at Oxbridge, then entry into civil service, as being a system that selfperpetuates.

Remember the quote from Sir Humphrey, from the BBC’s Yes Minister programme.

He said, regarding the civil service, “Permanence is Power”.

Alistair Ballantyne. 10 Hillpark Drive, Dundee.