Leading £11,000-a-term private school is caught in cash-for-places scandal after accepting six-figure sums 'to influence admissions' for foreign students

A number one non-public college that expenses £11,000-a-term has been reportedly caught in a cash-for-places scandal.

Stowe Faculty in Buckinghamshire has been accused by a newspaper sting of accepting as much as six determine sums to affect admissions for overseas college students.

It comes after footage mentioned to be of David Fletcher, the registrar of the varsity till this week, was revealed the place he mentioned if there was a 'marginal choice' over whether or not to confess an abroad scholar, an enormous donation from their household might assist safe the place.

Stowe Faculty in Buckinghamshire, pictured, has been accused of accepting as much as six determine sums to affect admissions for overseas college students

The investigation by the Every day Telegraph additionally reported that Mr Fletcher, 60, additionally instructed of how one abroad household gave £100,000 to Stowe to assist fund a mission there, in return for a spot for his or her youngster.

It got here after two of their undercover reporters posed as Russian oligarchs and met with Mr Fletcher saying they wished their son to review in England.

Mr Fletcher instructed her that although all pupils have to have the ability to go a check, if her consumer's son was a borderline case, a donation could be useful. 

Within the undercover footage, Mr Fletcher tells the 2 reporters: 'It's a giant development business, as a result of, as non-public schooling costs itself out of the market with British households, many faculties are having to go down that worldwide route to remain afloat.

'I all the time say to my headmaster – he's terrific however in some methods he's a bit naive – I say to him you simply don't realise how issues function elsewhere… and in addition you don't perceive that a few of these individuals are wealthy past Croesus.'

David Fletcher, who was the registrar of the varsity till this week, was secretly filmed saying if there was a 'marginal choice' over whether or not to confess an abroad scholar, an enormous donation from their household might assist

When one of many reporters asks if a donation could be useful to safe a spot for his son, Mr Fletcher replies: 'OK, every little thing I say goes to begin sounding a bit dodgy, but when it was the case that any individual was eager to work with the varsity, if there are marginal choices, then that may be useful.'

The college has now mentioned that Mr Fletcher has resigned after he made 'inaccurate and inappropriate statements'.

Headmaster Anthony Wallersteiner mentioned: 'There may be completely no fact in these allegations. Mr Fletcher was appearing independently of the varsity and now bitterly regrets making these false claims. 

'He confirms that he has no proof, neither is he conscious of any scenario the place a possible mum or dad has made a donation to safe a spot for a kid on the Faculty. He resigned with rapid impact when the varsity started its personal investigation and is not an worker of the varsity.

'I wish to take this chance to reassure you that Stowe would by no means permit a donation of any sort or measurement to have affect over the allocation of a spot on the Faculty.

'We satisfaction ourselves on working to the very best skilled and moral requirements. Our pupil recruitment is performed in accordance with the admissions standards revealed on our web site, and our fundraising is ruled by insurance policies and protocols for in search of and accepting donations.'  

Stowe Faculty opened in 1923 with 99 pupils and its alumni embrace businessman Sir Richard Branson, the actor Henry Cavill and Prince Harry's former girlfriends Chelsey Davy and Cressida Bonas.

Stoew Faculty alumni embrace businessman Sir Richard Branson, the actor Henry Cavill and Prince Harry's former girlfriends Chelsey Davy and Cressida Bonas

It's housed in one of many nation's most imposing neo-classical buildings, Stowe Home, set in 750 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland outdoors Buckingham.

Nevertheless, Stowe the place 90 per cent of pupils are boarders, has been embroiled in controversies earlier than. 

In 2003, a former pupil was arrested for alleged intercourse abuse of a 14-year-old nonetheless at Stowe.

A yr earlier there was a medication probe when the rave drug ketamine was present in a scholar's room. 

The investigation comes within the week that non-public faculties provided to create 10,000 free locations for poorer college students if the Authorities helps fund them.

The proposal, by the Impartial Colleges Council (ISC), recommended the Authorities pays not more than the price of a state college place per pupil - considered round £5,500 a yr - with the non-public sector paying the remainder. 

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