A private school in Oxford has been slammed for asking for help to pay Russian pupils tuition fees.

St Clare’s on Banbury Road sent out an email last Friday for pupils who “may now find it difficult”, The Sun reports.

In the letter, Principle Andy Rattue and chair Jens Tholstrup asked for cash to help Russian students pay their fees, which can be up to tens of thousands of pounds.  

READ MORE: First Ukrainian refugees arrive in ‘very beautiful’ Oxfordshire village

It read: “Of course our sympathies lie with the people of Ukraine, but sadly there are many Russians too who are strongly opposed to the invasion but who are denied a voice.”

The letter also asked alumni from the school to “consider supporting all our students affected by the conflict in Ukraine”.

The email also added: “Putin’s aggression is not done in their name and not only are they utterly desolate, they are also deeply embarrassed by these awful events.

“These are the disenfranchised Russians for whom our collective hearts break."

The Sun reports the email concluded: “Our dream must be to see Russia come in from the cold and enjoy the warm embrace of the community of democratic nations.”

Richard Gorst, a former business manager at the school, called the email “absolute disgrace”.

He told the national newspaper that the St Clare’s community “ought to be helping the people of Ukraine, not the rich Russian kids who can’t get school fees”

He added: “If they do have money to spare why not send it to the poor people of Ukraine who are being bombarded with bombs and bullets.

“I think it’s horrifying. We are absolutely outraged as a family. We all can’t believe that someone has done such a thing.

“It’s one of the most expensive schools in the country, it’s up there with Eton. It has students from all over the world."

Mr Rattue told the Oxford Mail the school is a "not-for-profit organisation" and relies "entirely on fee income and we do not have any investments or endowments to supplement our funds to subsidise free places for students". 

Mr Rattue added the message to alumni "made it clear that supporting our Ukrainian students was our first priority". 

He said: "We are supporting our Ukrainian students in every way we can, including the offer of external counselling, individual supportive conversations and the chance for them to explain what is happening in Ukraine to their fellow students.

"We are making it clear that none of them will be forced to leave the college for financial reasons. We are also in discussions with local charity Asylum Welcome, national charity RefuAid and Oxfordshire County Council about supporting Ukrainian refugees who are relocated to Oxford.

"If there are Ukrainian young people at the right age and stage of their education in the UK we would be happy to educate them.

"We are offering free English language tuition for adult refugees (as we have been doing recently for Afghan and Sudanese refugees). Moreover, many UK-based families connected with St Clare’s have offered to host refugee families.

"We feel strongly that the best way we can support the people of Ukraine is to continue to uphold the values of truth and justice, as well as offering what practical help we can to individuals as indicated.

"Our hearts go out to our students and former students who are affected by the war. The promotion of peace and understanding is woven into the texture of everything we stand for so our community will remain a safe environment for everybody."

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