Sir, At a time when many disappointed parents turn to the independent sector to exercise a choice of education that is increasingly unavailable in the maintained sector — the admissions statistics show that 25 per cent of children have not been offered a place at their first choice secondary school, and in London this rises to a third — the Charity Commission publishes draft guidance that may have the effect of increasing fee levels beyond their reach (“Independents 'must put up fees for the rich' to subsidise places for poor”, Mar 12).

Independent schools already spend £300 million each year on fee assistance, triple the much-publicised tax benefits of being a charity. But the commission’s requirement that independent schools provide opportunities to benefit at all income levels will have the surely unintended consequence of forcing many schools to pass additional costs on to parents who are already paying twice for education.

Matthew Burgess
General Counsel, Independent Schools Council

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