During a House of Commons debate on choral music in cathedrals, Conservative MP for Lichfield Sir Michael Fabricant said that cathedral schools are "very, very concerned" they may no longer be viable should Labour's plans come into effect. Sir Michael highlighted Lichfield Cathedral School as one such school that fulfils the vital role of providing young choristers for cathedrals. Echoing Sir Michael's concerns, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Julie Robinson said: "The majority of independent schools, including cathedral schools, have thin operating margins and cannot absorb the effects of VAT and the loss of business rates if they are to remain viable. But nor should they have to ask hardworking families to bear the brunt of a legal requirement to place VAT on fees." By Gabriella Swerling, The Telegraph. 

The full transcript of the debate can be viewed here.

In a letter published in today's Times on the subject of Labour's school fee tax proposals, a reader warns the underfunded state system "is going to require a great deal more than the £1.3 billion that the Labour Party calculates will be raised by levying VAT on private schools". The letter appears halfway down the page.

Schools Week exclusively reports that academy trusts are drawing up plans to open their own independent special educational needs and disability (SEND) schools to help ease the shortage of specialist provision, with five trusts reportedly working on the proposals with the government's free-school support contractor, Premier Advisory Group. By Samantha Booth. 

The use of anti-ageing products at too young an age can damage children’s sensitive skin, dermatologists have warned, and following a simple skincare routine is sufficient for pre-teens. Some teenagers are following online trends seen on platforms such as TikTok when they should seek medical help for problems such as acne, the experts added. By Kat Lay, The Times. 

An increased bursary of £30,000 alongside a higher career-change bonus would persuade more people to switch to teaching, a YouGov survey commissioned by Now Teach has revealed. Now Teach chief executive Graihagh Crawshaw-Sadler said the findings showed that the “public is intensely interested in the profession” despite teaching being “perceived as a stressful career”. By Matilda Martin, Tes. 

University of York is lowering the entry requirements for some international candidates, who pay higher fees than UK applicants, as a result of "current financial challenges", academics have been told. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, 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.

Sign-up to the email service is available on our website.

Members can contact the ISC if they know in advance of news, letters or opinions that are likely to feature in the media, or are aware of existing coverage which they would like to see featured in the DNS.

Headlines and first-line summaries are written by the ISC with the link directing to the source material. You should read and comply with the terms and conditions of the websites to which we link.