Letter: Assisted places mean state cuts
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: The college in Wiltshire at which I teach has been forced to endure numerous cuts in its income from the Government over the last four years, in the name of efficiency savings. Fewer courses are now offered, class sizes have increased significantly, and 13 staff have recently been made redundant.
Wiltshire County Education Authority has just confirmed swingeing cuts in the budgets of all its comprehensive schools, giving a lack of government funding as its reason. In addition, the authority is about to cut all hardship grants for students in further education.
Meanwhile, the Government is providing more than pounds 200m each year to fund places at independent schools all over the country, through the Assisted Places Scheme, and if the Prime Minister has his way, that figure is set to double next year.
Many of the measures taken by the last two Conservative administrations have had significant beneficial effects on the education system as a whole. However, the system is now in danger of serious underfunding, and it is very difficult to reconcile this enormous state subsidy to a private system, with such a severe lack of cash for that which belongs to the public.
I M PERRY
Corsham, Wiltshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments