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 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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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."

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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