A TOP-performing school in one of Glasgow's wealthiest areas receives a business rates discount other state secondaries cannot access.
Jordanhill School, in the city's west end, benefits from an 80% reduction in the six-figure sum, reports the Daily Record.
Glasgow City Council's Labour leader George Redmond said: “This does not seem fair. Schools serving poorer areas should have a level playing field.”
His comment came despite his party ending its pledge to ban charitable status for private schools last year.
Jordanhill, a state primary and secondary, recently topped school league tables for the seventh year in a row.
Unlike other council-run schools, it is independently governed and directly funded by the Scottish Government. As it is run by a charity, it can benefit from other financial advantages such as the business rates reduction.
According to the Scottish Government website, the school is liable for £261,332 of business rates. An 80% reduction takes a massive £209,065 off the bill – roughly the equivalent of salaries for six probationer teachers.
Nearby Drumchapel High is liable for £184,470 and receives no discount.
Councils pay the business rates for their schools, rather than the institution themselves.
READ MORE: DWP: New disability payment to be piloted by five Scottish councils
Private schools, which are also classed as charities, received the business rates discount until 2022, when it was removed during a Scottish Government review of the system.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council, which is reportedly considering axing hundreds of teaching posts in a bid to save cash, said: “Jordanhill (technically, the Board of Governors) gets mandatory relief of 80% on account of its charitable status.
"Councils have the discretion to top that up to 100%, we have not done so – they pay the 20% balance.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here