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Daily News Summary
6 December 2022

Labour leader criticised for tax plans after praising independent schools for doing a "huge amount" for the country
Antibiotics could be given to entire year groups to curb spread of Strep A
Outgoing vice-chancellor of Oxford sent her children to independent school for the "best education"
Affordable childcare for under-11s would 'boost the economy by £13 billion'
DfE minister links lack of flexibility to unmet teacher recruitment targets
'The Government has not grasped the child mental health services crisis'

Labour leader criticised for tax plans after praising independent schools for doing a "huge amount" for the country

 

Sir Keir Starmer has been condemned for pursuing plans to add VAT to school fees and remove independent schools' charitable status after having praised independent schools for adding "a huge amount to our country". Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), described the party's tax plan as "an ideological policy that would punish hard-working parents who strive to make this choice for their children". By Connor Stringer and Harriet Line, Daily Mail

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today show, the Labour leader acknowledged the positive contributions of independent schools, adding: "I think that there are very good private schools, and there's no case for abolishing them." By Henry Zeffman, The Times. The article references a quote from Shaun Fenton, head of Reigate Grammar School, and the ISC. 

In a letter to The Times, Patrick Derham, a former independent school headmaster, highlights the work of the Royal National Children's SpringBoard Foundation, "a groundbreaking charity that provides access to the right school, both independent and state boarding schools, for young people in or on the edge of care, or growing up in homes or areas where their potential is not being fulfilled". He warns that the work of organisations like this "cannot be allowed to suffer as an unforeseen consequence of Labour's plans regarding VAT and the charitable status of independent schools". The letter can be found a quarter of the way down the page.

 

Antibiotics could be given to entire year groups to curb spread of Strep A

 

According to The Telegraph, antibiotics could be given to entire year groups as a preventative measure to help curb the spread of Strep A in schools. The article also reports that nine children have now died after contracting a form of the bacterial infection. By India McTaggart.

The prime minister's official spokesman has said that while it is uncommon, it is important for parents to be "on the lookout for symptoms" of serious Strep A infection. These include a high fever, severe muscle aches and localised muscle tenderness. By Kat Lay and Debbie White, The Times.

Schools Week summarises guidance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on the management of scarlet fever outbreaks in schools, nurseries and other childcare settings. By Amy Walker.

 

Outgoing vice-chancellor of Oxford sent her children to independent school for the "best education"

 

Dame Louise Richardson, the outgoing vice-chancellor of Oxford University, has said that she sent her children to independent school to give them the "best education". This follows controversy over a decline in the number of independently educated children gaining places at Oxford and Cambridge. The Telegraph.

 
The Telegraph

Affordable childcare for under-11s would 'boost the economy by £13 billion'

 

According to a report by the Institute for Public Policy and Save the Children, access to affordable childcare for children up to the age of 11 would inject more than £13 billion into the British economy every year and help reduce the gender pay gap. By Poppy Wood, iNews.

Sam Freedman, a former adviser to the Department for Education (DfE), writes in The Times arguing "any party serious about winning the next election should expand childcare support".

 

DfE minister links lack of flexibility to unmet teacher recruitment targets

 

When asked by Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association, why the Government has not met its teacher training recruitment targets, Baroness Barran, minister for the schools' system, said "there is a very competitive labour market and historically teaching has not offered the same flexibility that is now offered post-pandemic for many graduate jobs". By Matilda Martin, Tes.

 
Tes

'The Government has not grasped the child mental health services crisis'

 

The cross-party Children and Families Act 2014 Committee has warned that the Government "has not grasped the importance and severity" of issues facing child mental health provision, after finding that landmark legislation "languished" as a result of poor implementation, inadequate scrutiny and "incessant churn" among ministers. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

 
Schools Week

 

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) monitors the national and educational press in order to keep independent schools up-to-date with relevant education news. The DNS is a service primarily for schools in membership of ISC associations, although other interested parties can choose to sign-up. We endeavour to include relevant news and commentary and, wherever possible, notable public letters. Where capacity allows, we may include links to ISC blogs, press statements and information about school or association events. News stories are selected based on their relevance to the independent sector as a whole. Editorial control of the DNS remains solely with the ISC.

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