Several representatives from the independent sector gave evidence to the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill Committee yesterday. The panel featured Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council (ISC); ISC deputy CEO and head of policy Simon Nathan; CEO of the Independent Schools' Bursars Association David Woodgate; and Don Beattie, a chartered surveyor and technical adviser to ISBA.

The witnesses discussed how the loss of business rates relief would affect independent schools and their communities. Opening the discussion, Barnaby Lenon said: "Today we're trying to make two points; one is that this bill is inadvertently creating a two-tier charity system, the other is the impact on our schools, but more particularly our pupils and parents."

David Woodgate warned of the financial impact of business rates, in conjunction with increases to teacher pension and national insurance contributions, and the implementation of VAT on fees from 1 January. He said: "If I were to make a plea, it would be to give us some grace on the implementation of [this bill]... that would be of tremendous assistance to schools labouring under a real financial burden that is not impacting on any other section of the economy - no other section of the economy has these four shocks simultaneously." He added that "costs are being cut back to the bone, subjects are being dropped, and inevitably this will result in redundancies", with a knock-on effect on pupil-teacher ratios.  

On the subject of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision, Simon Nathan said: "We know that it is not the best time for there to be more SEND pupils going into the state sector. Just yesterday the Institute for Fiscal Studies put out a report saying that high needs budgets are £3 billion in deficit. One of the mitigations that we would like to see is an expansion of the exemptions given to SEND pupils, perhaps exempting schools where 50% or over of pupils have SEND, not necessarily always on an EHCP."

Referencing the financial challenges faced by faith schools supported by their communities, Mr Nathan cited the example of Orthodox Jewish Haredi schools, saying: "The only way those schools can bridge that gap is through fundraising from the synagogues in the community, and if that money can’t come forward then those schools just don’t have the money to pay the bill. So they're very concerned." 

On the movement of pupils into the state sector Mr Nathan highlighted survey findings from the ISC, which revealed pupil numbers at independent schools were already down by 10,000 from September 2023 to September 2024. He said: "In terms of the money that would be raised to support greater investment in state education, obviously some of that would get eaten up by the pupils moving over... our concern is there will be particular parts of the country where there might be more hotspots."

Mr Lenon discussed the diversity of schools within the independent sector, saying: "There’s a massive range in terms of fee and the size of school, and it’s true to say that we are particularly concerned about the low-cost schools, the small schools, because they’re the ones who are most vulnerable". He added: "It’s worth saying they are charities—mostly small charities—operating on tight margins."

Watch from 15:06:16. 

The ban on giving puberty blockers to under-18s who are questioning their gender identity is to be made permanent, Wes Streeting has announced. The health secretary told MPs he was making the temporary ban, introduced in May, indefinite across the UK. This follows a consultation and advice from the Commission on Human Medicines, which said prescribing the drugs to children for gender dysphoria was an "unacceptable safety risk". By Nick Triggle, BBC News.

Ministers have confirmed that the UK's indefinite ban on giving puberty blockers to under-18s questioning their gender identity is to be followed in Scotland. They said that since medicines policy was reserved to Westminster, the ban would apply across England, Scotland and Wales. Campaigners in support of the ban have commended its "integrity" while those against have condemned it as "discrimination". BBC News.

Teachers who use ChatGPT alongside a guide on using it effectively can reduce lesson planning time by 31 per cent, a study commissioned by the Education Endowment Foundation has found. The randomised control trial investigated teachers’ use of ChatGPT during lesson and resource planning and the impact on their workload. The participants who used the service cut on average 25.3 minutes from their weekly Year 7 and 8 session planning, compared to those who were asked not to use it, or any other generative AI tools. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week. 

Writing in Tes, Luke Ramsden outlines the dangers of snus, a form of moist smokeless tobacco, and urges schools to take decisive action. Describing the harmful effects of the new nicotine-related trend, he warns: "Some studies have seen evidence of negative consequences for the developing brain. For students already vulnerable to peer pressure, the risk of addiction can spiral quickly." Luke Ramsden is deputy head of an independent school and chair of trustees for the Schools Consent Project.

In an interview with Independent School Management Plus, former Harrow School deputy head Nick Page talks about the creation of Wetherby Pembridge School in London, which will open next September under his leadership. Mr Page reflects on the successful launch of Harrow International School in New York, a project he led, and explains that his new co-educational secondary school will focus on a rigorous academic curriculum alongside a commitment to character education. On the similarities to his previous school, Mr Page says: "In both the case of Wetherby Pembridge and Harrow, actually, they’re sort of continuations or expansions of existing heritage. There’s expertise that you’re built on, rather than starting something totally distinct, so I think that’s helpful, and it’s an advantage." By Irena Barker. 

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