The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has urged Labour to consider the potential impact of its VAT plans for independent schools, amid concerns it could lead to larger class sizes in the state sector. Pepe Di’Iasio, the general secretary of ASCL, told The Telegraph: “We have made the point on a number of occasions that Labour needs to model this policy carefully if it becomes the next government to examine the implications in full.” By Poppy Wood and Ollie Corfe. When asked by iNews whether his school leader members feared increased class sizes could be one of the unintended consequences of Labour’s tax policy, Mr Di'lasio said: “Yes, definitely.” By Connie Dimsdale.

Sir Keir Starmer has said it was wrong for shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry to suggest Labour's pledge to add VAT to school fees would lead to bigger class sizes in state schools, telling LBC: “Bridget [Phillipson] has got it right and Emily didn’t get it quite right. Bridget is obviously the shadow secretary of state on education, and Emily just got the lines a bit wrong there.” By Sophie Wingate, The Standard.

Camilla Tominey, associate editor at The Telegraph, writes in the paper arguing Emily Thornberry "has admitted what everyone already knew" about the effect Labour's tax policy would have on pupil movement into the state sector. She adds: "Labour hoped this was a policy only the 'privileged' would have to worry about. But the impact on all parents – including those who send their children to state schools – has now been laid bare."

The Telegraph has spoken to parents who are among those who face removing their children from independent schools as a consequence of Labour's VAT policy. One parent, Claire, shares how she "already work[s] two jobs and cannot fathom a third to increase my income on which I will be taxed more". She has “zero savings or assets, I rent and don’t own a property and literally pay month to month to keep my children in their school”. By Tara Thorpe and Candela Orobitg-Baena.

Two letters to the editor are featured in The Telegraph regarding Labour's policy to tax independent school fees. Elizabeth Booth from Huddersfield asks why Labour mentions some of the largest independent schools as examples when "most private schools are filled by the children of hard-working parents who choose them for the smaller classes, better discipline and special needs support – and in doing so make significant financial sacrifices". Mark Robbins from Bruton, Somerset, writes: "The furore over class sizes begun by Emily Thornberry, the shadow attorney general, is just one of many problems in Labour’s plan to impose VAT on school fees." He goes on to question the exemption of VAT for the boarding element of state boarding schools, where the exemption does not extend to independent boarding provision. Both letters can be found at the bottom of the page.

According to a new poll seen by iNews, 57 per cent of the public support the idea of adding VAT to school fees and only 15 per cent oppose it. Luke Tryl of More in Common, the think tank that conducted the polling, said: “Labour’s policy of applying VAT on private school fees is consistently one of their most popular policies, supported by a majority of the public. However, despite the policy’s popularity with voters, most aren’t yet convinced of that the money raised from the policy will exceed the extra cost of educating more children in the state sector.” The Labour Party will reportedly continue to put the policy at the centre of its General Election campaign despite an internal disagreement over how the pledge will affect state schools. By Hugo Gye. 

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out imposing VAT on schools as soon as September, saying: “We will make that change. I’m not going to pre-empt the Budget when it will be and exactly when the timelines will be. But look, we’re going to do it.” By Genevieve Holl-Allen, The Telegraph.

In an interview with Ben Kentish on LBC, ISC chief executive Julie Robinson highlighted the types of parents, and schools, that would likely be most affected by Labour’s tax pledge. She added: “It’s not terribly progressive if you bring in a blanket 20% VAT on all parents who choose to pay fees if a large number of them are then priced out because they’re on the margins… we are talking large numbers of children moving, we’re already seeing parents changing their behaviour, less likely to commit to independent schools for this coming September.”

Speaking to Iain Dale on LBC, principal of Ewell Castle School Silas Edmonds explained how the prospect of VAT on fees is already having an impact on parents’ decision making and the financial viability of some independent schools. He warned the policy would “overload schools in the state system that are already starved of resources”, adding “what we’re really looking for is political leadership that will unite both the state and independent sectors to work together for all children – that’s what’s important”. (Listen from 00:14:18).

In a separate LBC interview with Nick Ferrari, Christine Cunniffe, principal of LVS Ascot, warned of the “shocking, devastating” impact the tax pledge would have on the sector. Referencing potential pupil movement from independent to state schools, she said: “People are going to the local authorities and many local authorities state quite categorically on their websites they don’t have the places.” The headteacher concluded the interview by saying “I feel for my state counterparts… they’re struggling in their schools with the numbers they’ve already got […] and they’re going to be put under undue pressure”. (Listen from 01:11:18).

Natasha Dangerfield, head of Westonbirt School, appeared on BBC Points West yesterday in a segment on Labour’s VAT policy. She said: “At the end of the day it will be children that will suffer: our children that have to leave and go and restart; the children that they will be replacing or displacing within the state sector, or increasing the class sizes of; and our state colleagues, having to work in a different way to increase those numbers.” (Watch from 06:23). 

Labour has been accused of leaving a gap in its childcare plans after the party said its promise to provide 100,000 new childcare places would not involve extra funding for the recruitment of staff. Rachel Carrell, the chief executive of childcare agency Koru Kids, said: “Labour now needs to come up with the other half of the plan, telling us how they’ll find the tens of thousands of new childcare workers we’ll need.” The party has pledged to expand childcare places through primary schools, using funds raised by VAT on independent school fees to refurbish classrooms, but nothing extra to boost staffing levels. By Kiran Stacey, The Guardian.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson appeared alongside Sir Keir Starmer at a primary school to publicise the party's promise to create over 3,000 “new school-based nurseries”. When asked whether this meant they were not all new nurseries, she replied: “Well in many cases it will be brand new, but in other cases it will be the expansion of classes or the expansion of the age range that is available." Genevieve Holl-Allen, The Telegraph.

Schools Week rounds up all the schools policies in the Liberal Democrats manifesto. In summary, the party has promised to increase school funding above inflation, spend an extra £1.9 billion a year on buildings, and include arts subjects in the EBacc. The party’s manifesto also commits to reform Ofsted, curriculum and assessment, expand extra-curricular activities, and extend free school meals and the pupil premium. By Freddie Whittaker.

Nearly one in five pupils accepted into the University of Oxford last year were declared disabled, according to a report published on Monday. The proportion of pupils declaring a disability nearly doubled, increasing from 9.5 per cent before the pandemic in 2019 to 19 per cent in 2023. The report reveals state school admissions to the university fell slightly from 68.1 per cent to 67.6 per cent, while the proportion of black and minority ethnic pupils rose from 22 per cent to 28.8 per cent. By Georgia Lambert, The Times.

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