ISC Daily News Summary

Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), tabled a debate in the House of Lords on the impact of VAT and other tax changes on independent schools since January 2025. The extensive debate, which took place yesterday, focused on the financial pressures facing independent schools, including the new tax, changes to business rates relief and higher employer National Insurance contributions. Introducing the motion, Lord Lexden said: "Article after article and survey after survey have provided evidence of the strain that the government's education tax is placing on hard-working families. The latest survey by Parentkind found that 40 per cent of parents with children in independent schools have been forced to cut back on household spending to meet the cost of their children's education. These are the people who work extra hours, forgo holidays and put off replacing the family car because they believe an independent school is right for their child. The education tax increases the sacrifices that they have to make." On the vital role played by independent schools in outreach and collaborative work, he explained: "In the past year, more than 1,000 Independent Schools Council (ISC) schools have worked with state school colleagues in nearly 10,000 partnership projects across sport, music, the arts and academic collaboration. These range from sharing facilities and running joint lessons and events to seconding staff and helping state school sixth formers with university applications. All represent invaluable opportunities for children at no cost to the state. Sadly, the government have shown remarkably little interest in supporting and strengthening this work, even as they place greater expectations on schools to broaden pupils' opportunities."

During the debate, speakers also considered the effects on pupil numbers, school closures, families and the wider education system. Focusing on specialist music and arts schools, Conservative peer Lord Blackwell warned: "The VAT levy now poses a real danger to the financial viability of these specialist schools, which play such an important role in maintaining the UK's cultural leadership." Welcoming the debate, Lord Black of Brentwood, honorary president of the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) and a Conservative peer, criticised the policy, saying the government had promised to use the money raised to fund new teaching places. "It was not honest: the number of teachers has fallen," he said. In the case of boarding schools, he added that VAT on fees has "disrupted children's education, put teachers and support staff out of work and had a profound impact on local communities". Echoing the concerns, Conservative peer Baroness Cash highlighted the impact of the tax changes on children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). She said ministers had "accepted in advance" that pupils with SEND who were forced to move schools would face "disruptive impacts, to say the least". 

Lord Lexden concluded the debate, highlighting concerns over bursaries, local economies, state schools, music and specialist provision, SEND, boarding schools, school closures and the fiscal case for the policy. He said there was "a widespread belief that at the heart of this is not economics but a vindictiveness towards independent schools".

Reference was made to research by the ISC, of which Lord Lexden is a former general secretary, and a number of schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations were mentioned during the debate. Hansard.

This summer, the Department for Education published new statutory guidance on keeping children with allergies safe. In an article for Tes, lawyers Alice Reeve and Natalie Wargent explain what schools need to do to ensure their policies and practices are up to date. "As part of an audit of current practice, catering processes, classroom materials, cleaning routines, storage of adrenaline devices and staff confidence in responding to emergencies should all be reviewed," they advise.

In an interview with Tes, Tom Bennett, England's independent behaviour adviser, acknowledges the problem of rising exclusion and suspension figures, but maintains that the government's approach is working and its latest Behaviour Hubs programme is already showing signs of success. "The systems are now in place to create the best behaviour that [teachers have] ever had," he says. The programme has been criticised, however, for not including special schools that may bring the expertise to mean both the universal offer and accommodations are as inclusive as they can be. Mr Bennett says that including special schools would "definitely" be an aim for phase two of the project. By Kyle Tormey.

Hampton School has announced the formation of a new charitable schools' group, Hampton Schools' Trust, which brings together four independent schools in South West London. The Trust's founding member schools, Hampton, Hampton Pre-Prep & Prep School, Kew College, and Newland House School, say the move will "strengthen their long-term sustainability, increase opportunities for pupils and staff, and secure the future of not-for-profit independent education in the area". The Hampton Schools' Trust Executive Leadership Group will be led by Hampton headmaster Kevin Knibbs, who commented: "Our governors and I, together with the heads in our family of schools, firmly believe in the importance, abiding relevance and moral purpose of charitable independent education." School Management Plus.