Wealthiest private schools spend less than 6% on means-tested bursaries, thinktank reports

Data shows England's 200 leading independent schools devote fraction of fee income to supporting poorer pupils

England's wealthiest private schools devote only a small fraction of their income towards means-tested bursaries, according to research that undermines claims that adding VAT to school fees would decimate support for poorer pupils.

The Private Education Policy Forum (PEPF), a thinktank campaigning for greater equality and transparency among independent schools, gathered data from more than 200 leading schools, and found they spent less than 6% of their total fee income on supporting pupils based on family income.