In a speech yesterday at the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the Labour Party would rewrite VAT rules to ensure parents face the full charge of VAT on school fees. Ms Phillipson said: “Back in 2010, George Osborne, when he made VAT changes, did something very similar. So we’re clear there was precedent when the legislation was drawn in such a way that it is effective in raising the money that we need to invest in our state schools.” Responding to the announcement, chief executive of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA) David Woodgate said: "The number of parents who can afford to use fees in advance schemes is very small and any political focus on this niche issue is a clear attempt to exploit stereotypes about independent schools." By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

iNews explains that Mr Osborne's retrospective legislation of 2010 meant the increased VAT rate applied to supplies of goods or services that were provided from 2011 onwards, even if invoices or prepayments were received before then. Labour’s plans would mean parents who pay school fees in advance will likely still have to source the funds for VAT on education that is supplied after the next general election should the party come to power. Several schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations are mentioned and ISBA's chief executive David Woodgate is quoted saying: “Most of our parent base are from dual-income households who pay school fees each year from taxed income and it is these families who should be concentrated on: these are the people Labour’s tax on education would hit hardest.” By Poppy Wood. 

The story has also been covered by The Times, The Independent, Tes and the Evening Standard.

A new survey by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) has found that a quarter of all international schools are teaching students how to use artificial intelligence (AI) “responsibly and appropriately”. Commenting on the survey findings that were based on feedback from 161 member schools worldwide, chief executive of COBIS Colin Bell said: “I suspect a lot of schools are directing staff towards training platforms they have so they can start to learn more about AI, and that means schools can make parents aware of how the school is tracking this trend.” By Dan Worth, Tes. 

Tes outlines five recommendations from experts who spoke yesterday at the Commons Education Select Committee’s inquiry into screen time, exploring how children should be taught about digital literacy and online harm. MPs faced calls for more teacher training and clearer guidance around digital literacy education but were warned that, "due to complexities", decisions on mobile phones should be left to schools. By Jasmine Norden.

Fast food diets leave children with stiffer arteries by their teenage years, which raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes at a younger age, according to new research by the University of Bristol. By Kat Lay, The Times. 

Writing in Tes, chair of the Commission on Young Lives and former children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield says the main parties "risk losing the trust of millions of voters" if they fail to put children and education at the top of their general election agendas. 

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