isc logo  

Daily News Summary
6 November 2023

Labour's school fee tax plans: Families 'downsizing' as head calls for 'long-term' UK education policy
Roedean School first to offer menopause classes
School staff asked to feed back on proposals from IICSA to introduce new mandatory reporting duty
Teachers 'feeling the pressure' of fielding questions about Israel-Palestine conflict
School strikes in Scotland called off following support staff pay offer
Rise in vaping-related hospital admissions among under-10s
NQTs attracted by overseas roles offering better pay and conditions, data suggests
'Schools that continue in TPS will need to find a large amount of money to do so'

Labour's school fee tax plans: Families 'downsizing' as head calls for 'long-term' UK education policy

 

Families are arranging their finances ahead of next year's general election, a financial planner has said, with some already downsizing amid Labour's plans to impose VAT on independent school fees. Lucy Chahil, from investment advisory Charles Stanley, said some of her clients were selling their homes and moving into less valuable properties to save for higher school fees. An accompanying table, entitled 'How could imposing VAT impact fees?', enables readers to view potential fee increases at individual schools. By Eir Nolsøe, The Telegraph.

An article in The New Statesman explores the possible effect Labour's tax proposals could have on independent schools. Warning that "change seems unavoidable", author Melissa Denes says: "If they lose their exemptions, private schools will either pass the cost on to parents, split the difference, or absorb it completely." Headmaster of Epsom College Sir Anthony Seldon is quoted, expressing his hope that party politics will not overshadow more important educational priorities that include teacher recruitment and retention. “The country needs a coherent, long-term policy", he said. The article references the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and several schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations.

 

Roedean School first to offer menopause classes

 

Roedean School has announced it is preparing to give pupils lessons on the menopause - the first school to offer dedicated classes on the subject. Headteacher Niamh Green is quoted on why her school is offering classes on non-curricular topics that also include smart investing and pensions. Referencing the menopause, which was added to the national curriculum in 2019, Ms Green said that it had been “absurdly” taboo until very recently but that it would affect every single pupil at her school. By Catherine Lough, The Telegraph. 

 
The Telegraph

School staff asked to feed back on proposals from IICSA to introduce new mandatory reporting duty

 

Headteachers and school staff have been asked by the Home Office for their views on a proposed legal requirement to report child sexual abuse. The government’s new consultation asks anyone working with children, including those in education settings, to feed back on proposals from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) to bring in a mandatory reporting duty. By Jasmine Norden, Tes.

 
Tes

Teachers 'feeling the pressure' of fielding questions about Israel-Palestine conflict

 

Pupils are missing out on learning about the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict because schools are afraid of being accused of bias, teachers in England have said. The Observer has learned that some schools are blocking attempts to introduce the topic, in spite of active interest from pupils, as a result of the "heat" it draws. By Anna Fazackerley. 

 
The Observer

School strikes in Scotland called off following support staff pay offer

 

Industrial action that would have seen many schools in Scotland close this week has been paused while members of Unison consider a new pay deal. Local authorities body Cosla has said more funding has been found to meet Unison's “extra demands", with the offer being put to the union's members in the coming weeks. 

 
Tes

Rise in vaping-related hospital admissions among under-10s

 

NHS figures have revealed a rise in hospital admissions linked to vaping for children under the age of ten. Since the beginning of 2022, there have been 24 admissions, up from two in the same period two years ago, according to data obtained by The Times under freedom of information legislation. By Max Kendix.

 
The Times

NQTs attracted by overseas roles offering better pay and conditions, data suggests

 

Newly-qualified teachers (NQTs) are leaving to take up positions at schools overseas due to abject pay and conditions in schools in the UK, according to data from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). Other reasons cited by teacher trainees opting to work abroad include include more respect in and out of the classroom and a move away from Ofsted. By Julie Henry, The Observer. 

 
The Observer

'Schools that continue in TPS will need to find a large amount of money to do so'

 

Writing in Independent School Management Plus, headmaster of Hill House School David Holland asks whether schools can now justify spending on the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) when they are facing such significant financial pressures. Advising headteachers to keep colleagues informed throughout the consultation process, Mr Holland says: "It is for each school to consider its own circumstances and protect itself, its reputation and its assets accordingly."

 
Independent School Management Plus

 

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.

Sign-up to the email service is available on our website.

Members can contact the ISC if they know in advance of news, letters or opinions that are likely to feature in the media, or are aware of existing coverage which they would like to see featured in the DNS.

Headlines and first-line summaries are written by the ISC with the link directing to the source material. You should read and comply with the terms and conditions of the websites to which we link.