Bridget Phillipson, Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, submitted a written question asking the chancellor "if he will publish the sources of the estimate that putting VAT on independent school fees would result in up to 90,000 children from the independent sector switching to state schools." The shadow education secretary was referring to the Autumn Statement of 17 November.

In response, Victoria Atkins, Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle, confirmed that "Baines Cutler, an independent analyst, conducted detailed research into what would happen if VAT applied to private school fees." She stated that "many education and training services are exempt from VAT because there is a broad public interest in the provision of education", adding "we have no plans to make changes".

According to The Times, the Government is considering plans to bar foreign students from Britain unless they have a place at a top university, in an attempt to curb record immigration. Prime minister Rishi Sunak said that “all options” were being explored after it emerged that total immigration had reached an estimated 1.1 million in the year to June. By Matt Dathan and Nicola Woolcock.

According to the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data released yesterday, female graduates in nearly every academic subject earn less than men five years after finishing their studies, even though they are more likely to be employed. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

The results of the first national times tables tests for nine-year-olds, published yesterday, have shown boys have narrowly outperformed girls. The mean average score out of 25 was 20 for boys compared to 19.6 for girls in 25 multiplication tests taken by over 600,000 Year 4 pupils in England. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

According to a poll by Unison, 35 per cent of school support staff say they have helped to pay for food or packed lunches for pupils. Almost all the 6,700 respondents (98 per cent) to the UK-wide survey said they were worried their pay would not cover rising living costs. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

New analysis by SEND specialist Matthew Keer has suggested that around 40 councils (just over 25 per cent) failed to increase top-up funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools this year, despite the provision of additional funding. Leora Cruddas, chief executive at the Confederation of School Trusts, has urged ministers not to “rob" special schools of their allocation of the £2.3 billion funding boost. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

Schools Week reports that ministers appear to have 'abandoned' their commitment to clarify extensive SEND reforms by the end of 2022, with Helen Hayes, Labour’s shadow children’s minister, accusing the Conservatives of “sitting on the sidelines” of the SEND system. By Samantha Booth.

The Department for Education (DfE) has recorded 183,817 suspensions in the autumn term 2021/22, the highest level since records began in 2016. Almost half of the suspensions issued across state primary and secondary schools were for "persistent disruptive behaviour". By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Writing in Tes, Bruce Caldow and Claire Fowler from the Scottish law firm Harper Macleod explore the Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC) guidance for schools on preventing hair discrimination, which was issued on 27 October.

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