The Daily Mail reports on the reaction across the education sector to reports that Labour plans to impose VAT on school fees within its first year of power, should the party win the general election. Education secretary Gillian Keegan has described the proposal as "ill thought through", warning of the impact it would have on small independent schools, including those providing special educational needs provision. Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), is quoted, warning: "Adding 20 per cent VAT to school fees is going to mean that for some parents the fees become unaffordable. VAT may have the effect of making independent schools more elitist and as usual, the children and families to suffer the most are those in the lowest income and the greatest need." The article also quotes Adam Hurst, head of Dolphin School. By Connor Stringer and Harriet Line.

Shaun Fenton, headmaster of Sir Keir Starmer's alma mater Reigate Grammar School, has warned that Labour's tax policy will fail to provide the level of funding required by the state sector. Mr Fenton said that "taxing seven per cent of children won't fund ambitious school improvement programmes for 93 per cent and won't provide the funding boost that state school leaders need". iNews. By David Parsley and Poppy Wood. 

Mr Fenton's comments are also featured in an article in The Telegraph, which includes an interactive table on how removing charitable status could impact fees. Barnaby Lenon is quoted, saying: “Given the many issues which remain unresolved, such as whether VAT will apply to the many special needs children, children in care and those children from low income homes on large fee reductions, it would seem that a carefully considered approach would be sensible.” By Amy Gibbons and Louisa Clarence-Smith.

Some independent school headteachers have warned that they could be forced to end partnerships with state schools as a result of Labour's plans to add VAT to school fees. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, is quoted saying: "Partnership work is at the heart of what many independent schools do, and we know they will do everything they can to keep schemes and projects running. It would be a real shame if Labour’s tax on children’s education led to a decrease in the valuable education initiatives at the heart of many communities." By Poppy Wood and Jason Arunn Murugesu, iNews.

Anneliese Dodds, the chair of the Labour party, has said Labour is "absolutely committed" to bringing in its tax policy for independent school fees. iNews. By Poppy Wood.

Labour will reportedly use the funds raised by its proposed VAT charge on independent school fees to pay for four different education policy pledges if the party wins the next general election. Senior Labour sources told iNews that these include plans to recruit 6,500 new teachers into the sector and to offer trainees a £2,400 bonus to encourage them to stay in the profession. By Poppy Wood.

The Spectator features a comment piece by teacher and journalist Kristina Murkett, who argues that while Labour's tax policy "may sound like an automatic vote winner.. it will actually worsen social mobility, and undo years of progress in private school philanthropy". Reference is made to figures from the ISC and a number of schools in membership of the organisation's constituent associations are mentioned.

Estate agents have warned that Labour's plan to add VAT to school fees could spark a property bubble around areas with the best-performing state schools. By Steve Robson, iNews. 

Leading charities and experts are to tell ministers that the harm caused to young people by lockdown was preventable. In a new report, the Children’s Rights Organisations alliance says social distancing and school closures during the pandemic had “long-lasting and era-defining impacts”. By Blathnaid Corless and Daniel Martin, The Telegraph.

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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