In an interview with The Times, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves discusses her vision for the Labour Party and explains why her upbringing has moulded the beliefs she holds today. Ms Reeves explains that she sends her own children to state schools out of principle, and, in response to the prime minister's remarks that adding VAT to independent school fees would be a tax on aspiration, she says: “Oh no it really isn’t... it’s the exact opposite. I am really aspirational for kids from all backgrounds, and I believe there’s huge talent out there that at the moment too often goes to waste. We would use every penny of that money to invest in our state schools." By Steven Swinford and Henry Zeffman.

Labour's plans to add VAT to independent school fees are explored in a Spear's article by Gareth Parker-Jones, head at Rugby School, in which he also looks at the merits of an independent education and the cross-sector partnership work taking place. On the issue of VAT, Mr Parker-Jones argues that Labour's plans "do not stack up", adding: "Taxes have never been levied on education in England, a pattern that is mirrored throughout most of the world. In proposing to impose taxes, the Labour Party is crossing an educational and political Rubicon." Reference is made to figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

The Times features two letters responding to Rachel Reeves's comments. Ben Wolfin, an English teacher, says: "Instead of attacking private education, perhaps she should put her efforts into repairing the state sector, starting with adequate funding of schools, reduced class sizes, retention of staff and training opportunities for teachers." Julian Gairdner argues: "Burdening the state system with a proportion of the 600,000 privately educated pupils who will be removed from their schools if VAT is levied is a poor answer to our educational woes."

According to research by The Telegraph, independent school pupils who move to state sixth form are up to a third more likely to get accepted into Cambridge University, with students who remain at independent school for GCSE and A-level having an acceptance rate of 19 per cent last year, compared to around 25 per cent for those who moved to a grammar school or sixth form college. The data also indicates that between 2018 and last year, the universities most likely to accept independent school pupils were Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Imperial. By Hayley Dixon.

GCSE and A-level students have learned their grades will be protected from pandemic disruption, as exams start for most students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Further measures are in place to support pupils, although this help varies across the different parts of the UK. By Hazel Shearing, BBC News.

Teenagers who are critically ill and unable to sit exams can now receive GCSE and A-level grades, following a year-long campaign against “deeply unfair” policies. Updated guidance from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) states an exam board “may be able to determine grades using suitable alternative assessment evidence”. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week.

In a blog to mark the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week, Lucinda Powell and Natalie Hunt, of Abingdon School and The Abingdon Foundation respectively, share their thoughts on anxiety and some of the best strategies to use to help mitigate it.

A report from Civitas suggests a tenth of children aged 16 to 18 want to change gender or have already done so. The findings also suggest more than three quarters of parents want the legal right to see all sex and relationships education materials used in school lessons. The think tank surveyed 100 youngsters of sixth form age in England and polled a similar number of parents of younger teenagers. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is reportedly under pressure to withdraw guidance for schools recommending that pre-schoolers “ask questions about sexuality” and “explore gender identities”. By Michael Murphy, The Telegraph.

The National Education Union (NEU) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) have begun their latest ballot of members in England, as the long-running pay dispute with the government continues. By Amy Walker, Schools Week.

Figures from the Ministry of Justice have revealed that around 1,700 parents a month are being prosecuted by schools and local councils for failing to send their children to school, up from between 700 and 900 a month at the beginning of 2022. By Charles Hymas, The Telegraph.

According to an analysis by the economic consultancy London Economics, the government’s student loan reforms will benefit the country’s best-paid graduates at the expense of nursing graduates, teachers and other lower- and middle-income earners. By Jon Ungoed-Thomas, The Observer.

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