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Daily News Summary
28 September 2021

'Everyone would be worse off under Labour's independent school tax plan'
Coronavirus: Warning over hoax anti-vaccine letters sent to schools
School funding 'under threat' ahead of spending review
Nick Gibb adviser promoted as part of DfE shake-up
Eating fruit and vegetables improves children's mental health, findings suggest

'Everyone would be worse off under Labour's independent school tax plan'

 

School leaders have warned that a proposal to remove independent schools' charitable status would lead to more pupils moving to the state sector, increasing class sizes. By Catherine Lough, Tes. The article quotes Simon Hyde, general secretary of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, and Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council.

David James, deputy head of an independent school in London, writes in Tes warning the policy would force smaller independent schools to close, adding "absorbing additional pupils and staff into the state sector would be costly and probably unwanted by local education authorities".

 

Coronavirus: Warning over hoax anti-vaccine letters sent to schools

 

The Association of School and College Leaders has warned that headteachers are being targeted by fake vaccine consent forms intended to spread anti-vaccine messages to parents in England. By Sean Coughlan, BBC News.

New survey findings suggest half of children and young people aged nine to 18 are willing or eager to be vaccinated against COVID-19. By Michelle Roberts, BBC News.

 

School funding 'under threat' ahead of spending review

 

According to The Times, education is expected to be the hardest hit in the spending review, with "minimal" additional funding to support school catch-up. By Steven Swinford and Nicola Woolcock.

 
The Times

Nick Gibb adviser promoted as part of DfE shake-up

 

Tes reports Will Bickford Smith, the policy adviser to former schools minister Nick Gibb, will now report directly to the new secretary of state, Nadhim Zahawi. By Amy Gibbons.

 
Tes

Eating fruit and vegetables improves children's mental health, findings suggest

 

A study from the University of East Anglia found that children who ate their five a day had the highest wellbeing scores, while those who had a traditional breakfast had higher scores than their peers who had only a snack or drink. By Kay Lay, The Times.

 
The Times

 

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