Writing in Independent School Management Plus, Conservative MP Andrew Lewer looks at the history of the charitable status of independent schools and considers the wider impact of Labour's plans to tax school fees. Acknowledging the "immediate catastrophe" facing some independent schools that could be forced to close as a result of Labour's plans, Mr Lewer says it will be the parents of prospective Year 5s hoping to educate their children independently who will see fees rise out of their reach. He writes: "I fear that, although there will be some schools that close right away, the real impact will take longer to be felt but will be no less severe for that." Mr Lewer is also chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Independent Education.

A mother has taken to the parenting platform Mumsnet to share her concerns after revealing that her child's school fees have risen by 19 per cent in 12 months. In the post, which prompted a mixed response, the woman wrote that "there are no state school places to be had within a 12 mile radius", adding: "The only other option is home schooling which isn't possible when the parents are working full time." Discussing the fee rise, one forum user said: "Staffing costs, fuel bills, cost of school essentials like paper has increased exponentially... schools are not immune to the cost of living crisis." By Ellen Coughlan, Daily Mail.

Analysis by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) suggests just 47 per cent of the total secondary trainee target is likely to be met, with only PE, history and classics departments predicted to have attracted enough staff. The findings come as teachers in England have taken their fifth day of strike action since February and the leader of the National Education Union has accused the government of “living in a fantasy world” about the state of education. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Education secretary Gillian Keegan said this week's strike action by teachers was "extremely disappointing", as staff in schools and sixth form colleges joined picket lines in England. Members of the NEU are also planning to strike on 2 May. By Vanessa Clarke, BBC News.

Members of the National Association of Head Teachers union (NAHT), which mainly represents primary heads, are to vote again on whether to strike over pay, funding, workload and wellbeing. The union held a strike vote in January that supported taking action but did not reach the required 50 per cent turnout. By Nathan Standley, BBC News.

Writing in The Telegraph, former teacher and schools minister Jonathan Gullis argues that the NEU's leadership is not pushing strikes in order to help teachers, but is taking the action in a “war of position” against “neoliberal ideology”.

According to The Telegraph, teachers across England are calling for a 15 per cent pay rise despite receiving pension contributions nearly eight times that of the private sector. By Ruby Hinchcliffe.

Simon Kidwell, vice-president of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), will tell delegates at the union's annual conference that the present inspection framework is “doing more harm than good”. Mr Kidwell will urge colleagues to put the watchdog “back in its box” and not advertise good or outstanding labels. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

MPs are “confident” that changes to SATs run by Capita will ensure an “improved service” after a series of failings during the tests last year. A recent report by Ofqual revealed problems including lost scripts and late results in the first test series run by the outsourcing firm to oversee the management of the national tests. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

A report by the Commons Education Select Committee is calling for ministers to halt plans to stop funding courses such as BTECs before new T-levels are ready to replace them. Students could miss out on suitable vocational courses after their GCSEs if a shake-up of post-16 education goes ahead as planned, the report warns. By Nathan Standley, BBC News.

Nick Gibb, the schools minister, discusses school funding in an exclusive interview with Tes. By John Severs.

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