One in four wealthy parents plan to remove their children from independent schools if Labour's plan to impose VAT on fees is put into effect, according to the findings of a new survey. The survey of 2,000 people with investable assets of more than £250,000 found that 71 per cent believed rising school fees would have an impact on their choices around independent schooling in the future. Others said they plan to move house so children who are boarding can remain as day pupils, or may consider moving to be near a cheaper alternative. Responding to the findings, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Julie Robinson said: “Five separate surveys have now found exactly the same thing: that VAT would cause parents to leave the independent school sector in numbers that would result in a net cost to the taxpayer." Calling for the chance to discuss the policy with Labour, Ms Robinson added: “We are particularly concerned about the disruption to education for children receiving special educational needs support, for military families and for those choosing faith schools.” Speaking to The Times, principal of Alamiyah School Saahera Motara warned: "If the new proposed plans from Labour to impose VAT on school fees do come into effect... that would be an existential threat. It’s very possible that a school like ours may have to shut its doors, which is something we are very reluctant to do.” By Nicola Woolcock.

In an interview with Matthew Wright on LBC, Ms Robinson reiterated concerns around the potential impact of Labour’s VAT policy. She warned: “We’ve seen now five separate surveys suggesting that between a fifth and a quarter of parents would leave the sector – if that happened, then actually this tax wouldn’t raise anything for state education.” She explained how pupil movement would cause disruption to children’s education, and highlighted the families who are likely to be among those most affected by VAT on fees. Also speaking to Matthew Wright, Brent Poland, a history teacher at a state secondary school, warned the policy is “not thought through”, adding that £1.6 billion is “chicken feed to what is really needed after 14 years of austerity in education”. Listen from 01:08:13. 

Silas Edmonds, principal at Ewell Castle School, shared his concerns about the VAT policy with Natasha Devon on LBC. He said that 15 to 18 per cent of parents would no longer be able to send their children to his school if VAT were added to fees. He warned of the impact of pupil movement from independent schools, combined with proposals to bring more children out of home education, saying many of his local state schools are already “largely oversubscribed and extremely busy”. Listen from 01:06:53. 

Labour's tax plans are "jeopardising the education and wellbeing" of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), parents have warned. In an article in The Telegraph, a number of parents of children with SEND in Wales outline their concerns, and one mother describes independent schools as a "lifeline". Speaking to the paper, chief executive of the Welsh Independent Schools Council Emma Verrier said: “Welsh independent schools provide much-needed support for pupils with special needs and their families. They add vital capacity within Welsh education." Ms Verrier continued: “Labour’s VAT policy risks harming Welsh families, Welsh independent schools, and state provision. It would price many families out of the independent schools their children know and love, causing increased demand for already-stretched state schools.” By Charlotte Gifford.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, is keen to close a "widening access gap between state and private schools" after figures showed 72 per cent of independent school pupils play team sports once a week compared with 52 per cent in state schools. Sir Keir will tell the shadow cabinet he will pledge to increase sporting activity in schools with a curriculum review and more specialist teachers. By Chris Smyth, The Times. 

Independent school pupils may have been flagged for inclusion in a Cambridge University scheme designed to help deprived teenagers, according to an investigation by Varsity, the university's student newspaper. Freedom of information requests showed that the university flagged at least 289 independent schools for “low participation in Oxbridge” when assessing applications. By Louisa Clarence-Smith and Wilf Vall, The Telegraph. 

Ministers are expected to announce that Ofsted’s one-word judgments, which brand a school with a single adjective such as “outstanding” or “inadequate”, are to be abolished following the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry. The move by the government will be confirmed on Thursday when it publishes its response to an inquiry into the inspectorate. By Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times.

The Commons Education Select Committee has launched an inquiry into the attainment gap between girls and boys, which it said exists across all age groups and nearly all ethnic groups. Commenting on the inquiry, committee chair Robin Walker told Tes the “discrepancy is more stark” in some state schools compared with others where there is little difference between genders. By Jasmine Norden.

The BBC is planning to use a new £6 million investment in artificial intelligence to transform its educational provision. The investment will aim to make BBC Bitesize more personalised and interactive for pupils from primary school onwards, while the broadcaster is also reportedly testing out a new service for A-level students, providing content to help them widen their knowledge around a subject. By Alexandra Topping, The Guardian.

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