British Proposal Calls for Private School to Aid Public Schools

Britain’s opposition Labour Party has introduced legislation that would oblige private academies to provide more support for state-run schools in their communities as a condition of their charity status and tax breaks, BBC News reports. The amendment to a bill on charities now before Parliament calls on independent schools to share music and arts facilities and career services with publicly funded counterparts.

“Some of the best private schools do that, but many don’t,” said Lucy Powell, Labour’s shadow secretary for education. She said greater cooperation between public and private schools would help address stalled social mobility in Britain. The Boarding Schools’ Association, which represents many private schools, called the plan “half-baked” and said many independent schools already have “much broader” partnerships with public schools and community groups.