Starmer accused of ‘fudging the facts’ of his schooling by education expert

Sir Keir Starmer has faced accusations of “fudging the facts” astir his education, from the laminitis of a societal mobility charity.

Sutton Trust laminitis Sir Peter Lampl, who went to the aforesaid schoolhouse arsenic the Prime Minister, Reigate Grammar, made the assertion arsenic helium attacked the Government’s plans to complaint VAT connected backstage schoolhouse fees.

The schoolhouse was funded by the section assembly erstwhile the Prime Minister joined, but became a backstage schoolhouse 2 years into his clip there.

Sir Keir received a bursary from the assembly to proceed his studies until sixth form, arsenic did different pupils who began attending the schoolhouse earlier it was converted.

I americium helping young radical to payment from an acquisition that made each the quality to me, Starmer is destroying the opportunities to person the aforesaid chances helium had

Sutton Trust laminitis Sir Peter Lampl

Sir Peter was an advisor to the Blair authorities connected acquisition and until past twelvemonth was president of the Sutton Trust, a foundation which aims to amended societal mobility.

Writing for the Telegraph newspaper, helium said: “I don’t unreal the schoolhouse we went to was a authorities school, Starmer does. But helium is fudging the facts.

“I americium helping young radical to payment from an acquisition that made each the quality to me, Starmer is destroying the opportunities to person the aforesaid chances helium had.”

Sir Peter besides claimed the “regressive” determination to complaint the taxation connected schoolhouse fees would deprive children of extra-curricular activities, “vandalising” the backstage sector.

Rather than taxing backstage schools, the Prime Minister “should beryllium uncovering ways to amended exploit and stock what they have”, and “to unfastened them up to a wider demographic”, helium wrote.

Introducing VAT connected backstage schoolhouse fees is aimed astatine raising much wealth to money authorities schools.

Schools successful the authorities assemblage are faced with crumbling buildings made from Raac (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete), determination are staffing shortages, and headteachers are faced with progressively choky budgets.

A Government spokesperson said: “Ending the VAT interruption for backstage schools means an further £1.7 cardinal a twelvemonth that tin beryllium invested successful our authorities schools, wherever 94% of this country’s children are educated.

“This means much teachers, higher standards and the champion accidental successful beingness for each our children, arsenic we present connected our program for change.”