Private schools will offer up to 10,000 free places for low-income pupils

Private schools are planning to offer up to 10,000 places to low-income pupils in England.

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) told the BBC that extra educational costs will be covered by different schools as long as the government gives them the £5,550 per pupil: the cost in state system.

This is expected to cost up to £80m.

While some pupils will be tested for ability, the scheme would not just target the most successful ones.

The scheme comes as private schools face a threat to their charitable status, which, according to the ISC, saves such establishments £150m per year.

The plan is designed in accordance to government demands that private education does more for potential pupils from low-key income families in exchange for its tax-free, charitable status.

However, Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw warned that the proposals do not go far enough.

“I think they can do better than that and if I was government I would be asking them to do more as a quid pro quo for their tax privileges,” he said.