A leading article in The Times today criticises Labour's independent school tax policy, arguing: "There is no convincing argument as to why the Labour leader should prioritise an unprecedented assault on this country’s internationally renowned independent schools in his first term in No 10, as his spokesman pledged this week." The article also highlights new figures on the economic contributions of independent schools: "Despite educating a mere 7 per cent of Britain’s children, the independent sector saves the Treasury an estimated £4.4 billion it would otherwise have to spend educating children in state schools. It also contributes some £5.1 billion in tax revenue and employs 300,000 people."

The Financial Times features a letter co-signed by the leaders of some of the ISC's constituent associations, which calls on the Labour Party to show the workings behind its claims that it would raise £1.71 billion by adding VAT to independent school fees. The letter references findings from the independent Baines Cutler report, which suggest Labour could lose up to £400 million a year by the end of its first parliamentary term in government.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), was interviewed alongside Sian Griffiths, education editor of The Sunday Times, and Francis Gilbert, academic director of Connected Curriculum, on Vanessa Feltz's Talk TV programme yesterday in which they discussed the charitable status of independent schools and the cross-sector partnership work taking place. Ms Robinson described independent schools as "engines of social mobility, rather than blocks". To watch the interview please skip to 36:40.

Ms Robinson was also interviewed by Esther McVey and Philip Davies on GB News earlier today, where she warned of the impact adding VAT to school fees would have on independent school parents and the education sector more widely. To listen to the interview, skip to 14:34. Please note that as this is a live programme, the exact timestamp may change throughout the day.

Writing in The Telegraph, Kate Andrews explores the "deeper economic issue" surrounding the idea of adding VAT to school fees.

According to a survey conducted for The Mirror by Redfield and Wilton, almost two thirds of voters (62 per cent) believe independent schools should lose their charitable status. Redfield and Wilton interviewed 1,500 adults in Britain online on 30 November. A separate item references data from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) on independent school fees and pupil numbers. By John Stevens.

A report by the Institute of Student Employers (ISE), formerly the Association of Graduate Recruiters, has revealed that the number of recruiters stipulating a minimum 2:1 degree has fallen to 48 per cent, down from 57 per cent in 2021. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Research by the Sutton Trust has found 'clear signs' that the cost of living crisis has been increasingly affecting children's education, with over 50 per cent of school leaders in England reportedly seeing more pupils who cannot afford a meal at lunchtime yet are not eligible for free school meals. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

Evidence from scientists at Stanford University, who performed brain scans on 163 children, suggests that young people's brains aged faster than normal during the pandemic. An adolescent brain changes on entering adulthood but in those subjected to extreme stress the process happens quicker than normal, which appears to have happened in youngsters during the pandemic. By Joe Pinkstone, The Telegraph.

According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), teachers in Scotland are among the best-paid in the world, with salaries overtaking those in some of the wealthiest countries. Only Germany and the United States pay their graduates more, the OECD has found. By Mark McLaughlin, The Times.

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