BRIGHT children from less well off Bolton families will suffer under Labour according to Bolton Conservatives.

Local Tories have placed the future of Bolton School at the centre of an election row.

Tom Sackville claims the prestigious private school on Chorley New Road will be hit hard by Labour's pledge to scrap the assisted places scheme to pay for reduced class sizes in state schools.

He stormed: "The brightest and best children will suffer under Labour's threatened abolition of the Assisted Places Scheme. Bolton School would be devastated as hundreds of gifted children are denied the education they deserve.

"This is a policy of malice and envy. If the assisted places scheme is withdrawn the gates of the school will be finally closed to all except those who have the financial resources to pay sharply increased fees."

Head of the Girls' Division, Miss Jane Panton, said Bolton School had already taken steps to cushion the impact of any phasing out of the 38 assisted places offered annually.

About one third of current pupils benefited from the scheme but she said: "It would have an impact but it would not be dramatic or catastrophic.

"If it had been abolished that would have been terrible but because it is being phased out over years we are confident we can reduce the impact ."

Fund-raising has already started and Miss Panton is confident Bolton School will be able to offer at least 20 of their own 'governors' assisted places' every year if Labour do win the election.

Mr Sackville disputed Labour figures that the money saved would be enough to make a difference to class sizes in all schools.

Labour rival Ruth Kelly admitted a future Labour government would face difficult spending decisions and added: "Our priority will be to raise standards for all children not just a select few.

"We believe the money spent on assisted places for 37,000 children across the country would be better spent on cutting class sizes for half a million primary school pupils."

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