The Telegraph speaks to parents about how they would be affected by Labour’s tax plans for independent schools. Jon* calls Labour’s VAT policy "a vicious attack", adding that it fails to take account of "the individual needs of many of the families making huge efforts to put their children into a school". For Mark*, the father of a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the prospect of increased school fees has led him to consider moving the family to Dubai to secure the specialised type of education they need. Claire*, a mother of two who may have to move her children from their independent schools into the state sector as a result of the tax policy, tells the paper she believes Labour's plans "will irreversibly and negatively impact our day-to-day lives in ways I probably haven’t fully anticipated". *Names have been changed throughout the article to protect the anonymity of these individuals. By Tara Thorpe and Candela Orobitg-Baena. 

An article in The Telegraph warns that up to 100,000 families could be priced out of independent education as a result of Labour's tax policy, with those affected likely to include bursary students, children from military families and pupils in the state sector. Commenting on the impact a bursary has had on her daughter's education, one mother says: "Getting a bursary is like all your birthdays coming at once. It is the best thing to ever happen to me (and also to my daughter)." On the threat to pupils with SEND, the article refers to a quote from chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Julie Robinson, who recently warned that Labour could be “sleepwalking into a SEND catastrophe”. The paper lists the groups it has categorised at being most at risk of Labour's tax plans (this appears above half-way). By Pieter Snepvangers.

Speaking to Ady Dayman on BBC Radio Leicester, Samantha, whose son Alfie attends Tring Park School for the Performing Arts with the help of a bursary, shares her thoughts on the VAT policy. Urging Labour to "rethink the blanket VAT charge", she adds "there are children in these private schools that are not from wealthy backgrounds, they are talented and they should be nurtured in that talent". Simon Larter-Evans, principal at the school, questions the logic behind the policy, citing Labour's support for arts education. (Listen from 1:15:32). In a separate interview with Russell Quirk on Talk TV, Mr Larter-Evans warns: "Our parents are already on the fine edge of what they can afford. A lot of money that comes in then goes back out in bursaries, so the challenge for us is that if there's a VAT imposition, those bursaries evaporate." (Watch from 32:16).

In a lengthy item on the potential impact of Labour's tax policy, iNews talks to parents frustrated with some of the more extreme anti-VAT plotting they have encountered in local parenting groups on platforms including WhatsApp and Facebook. Parents share their reactions to tactics such as registering their children for state schools, despite having no intention of taking up the place, to pressure education unions and the government. Groups such as Education Not Taxation: Parents Against School Fee VAT say they have discouraged such tactics. By Lucy Denyer.

A new poll by Savanta for The Scotsman has found 52 per cent of Scots support Labour’s plan to charge VAT on school fees, while 16 per cent oppose it. The poll asked participants for their opinion without mentioning it was a Labour policy. The article references a quote from a spokesperson at Fettes College who said: "We are disappointed with the effect [the policy] will have on parents who make many sacrifices and difficult choices to send their children to independent schools." By Alistair Grant. The poll findings are also the focus of a comment piece in the paper.

According to industry advisers from Quintessentially Education, there has been a 300 per cent increase in parents questioning the long-term viability of the UK independent school sector amid concerns over Labour's VAT plans. The article references a quote from head of Epsom College Sir Anthony Seldon who recently told Spear's: "This will damage schools outside the South East, prep schools, niche schools and many other schools which don’t operate on significant margins."  By Stephanie Bridger-Linning.

Writing in The Telegraph, columnist Ben Wright warns there is a risk Labour's tax plans would "make private schools more expensive and therefore more elitist". Mr Wright turns his attention overseas to explore some of the alternative approaches taken by countries that subsidise their independent schools. Highlighting Denmark as an example, Mr Wright says: "All parties in the Danish Parliament back financial support for private schools in the belief that 'the municipal [state] schools also will benefit from the experience and competition offered by the private schools'." 

Reference is made to figures from the ISC across much of today's coverage.

Children who go to academically selective schools do no better in early adult life than those who attend comprehensives, according to a report published in the British Journal of Educational Studies. The research, which looked at selective schools in Australia, suggests grammar schools bring little to no benefit in terms of the likelihood of attending university or securing employment. However, the researchers did not compare the type of university attended or roles secured by those going to selective and non-selective schools. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. 

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