Parents are remortgaging their homes to raise funds for school fees amid concerns over Labour's tax plans for independent schools, the chair of a business consultancy for the education sector has said. David Boddy, whose firm ASIS works with a mortgage broker to match lenders with parents wanting to take out a loan, told The Telegraph he has spoken to parents “with tears in their eyes” and that there has been a “substantial uptick” in interest since the General Election was called on 22 May. Reiterating calls for Labour to meet and discuss the tax policy, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Julie Robinson told the paper: “We know there is a lot of concern around how an unprecedented tax on education might affect affordability for parents. It is possible that stories such as these will become more common and independent education less accessible as a result of VAT on fees." Silas Edmonds, headmaster of Ewell Castle School, said: "Parents have said to me ‘it’s either mortgage or the school fees – we can’t do both.’" By Mattie Brignal.

Tom Lawson, the head of Eastbourne College, has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “political posturing” over the Labour Party's “quixotic tax”. Writing for The Telegraph, the headteacher warned that the VAT plans would impact hard-working parents the most while having little effect on the wealthiest families. Urging any incoming Labour government to “think about the many transformative bursaries and scholarships” on offer across the sector, he added: "You [Labour] always ask for more of this but then put a tax on those that pay for it. That does not wash. At least understand just how well independent schools provide access and partnership with the local community." The Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) has called for a VAT exemption for all boarding costs. Speaking yesterday, BSA director David Walker said: “There is no sense in implementing a tax on sleeping overnight in one type of school and not another. We strongly believe there should be no tax on children sleeping at all." By Poppy Wood. Tom Lawson's article can be read in full half-way down the page.  

In an open letter to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, principal of Kings Monkton School Paul Norton described the VAT pledge as a "tax on parents" that could result in the school’s closure. Mr Norton said: “This would be detrimental to our whole community – our pupils and parents, colleagues in the state sector, and the wider school community." He added: “It would be especially challenging for pupils who have failed to flourish in the state sector and have come to our specialist provision at great cost and sacrifice to their families." LBC features an interview with Mr Norton as well as a number of parents who share their experiences. Larysa Martseva, whose family fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, explained that her son suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and additional learning needs, and she fears Labour’s policy would prevent independent schools from helping refugees with complex needs in the future. By Bronwen Weatherby. 

Labour’s tax policy would have “catastrophic” consequences for Britain’s choirs, headteachers from the Choir Schools Association (CSA) have warned. The CSA, which represents 40 independent schools whose pupils sing in cathedral choirs, told The Telegraph that scholarships for choristers would lose funding under a Labour government. David Morton, head of The King's School, an independent choir school in Gloucester, warned Labour’s policy would adversely affect smaller choir schools and have minimal impact on large wealthy independent schools. Simon Larter-Evans, principal of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, reiterated concerns that the tax policy would reduce opportunities for working-class children. By Noah Eastwood.

Writing in The Scotsman, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP Murdo Fraser says it is "simply wrong to characterise the parents who choose independent education as all being wealthy". Describing the "substantial" economic value of independent schools in Scotland, Mr Fraser also outlines the reasons why parents choose an independent education for their children, and how this choice is being threatened by Labour's tax policy. He writes: "According to a report by Biggar Economics, commissioned by the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, some 6,000 pupils face having their learning disrupted by being forced out of the sector. Those with additional support needs will be affected the most by this disruption." The MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife concludes the article by saying: "It all feels like a policy driven by the politics of envy rather than any objective analysis of its benefits to society."

The Telegraph features an interview with an unnamed NHS doctor who shares her fears of being forced out of her job due to the implications that Labour's tax policy would have for the wraparound care offered by her child's independent school. She says: "If by some miracle we get into the nearest state school, there is no breakfast club... How do you work when your child’s bus stop is two miles away from your house? It’s not feasible." By Pieter Snepvangers.

Two readers write to The Telegraph on the subject of Labour's tax plans for independent school fees. Richard Symington warns that Labour is set to place a "significant burden" on families, while some independent schools will be forced to close. He adds "as things currently stand, the state sector is in no position to take on a vast mass of children formerly educated in private schools". 

On the provision of education for children with SEND, Diane Alder asks: "Can Labour really intend for some of these pupils to move to state schools that may not be able to support them adequately? These are the most disadvantaged children in our educational system."

Both letters appear at the end of the page.

Tes provides a summary of the education policies in the Conservative Party manifesto. These include making guidance on banning mobile phones statutory, protecting “day-to-day” per pupil school funding, and mandating two hours of PE every week for both primary and secondary schools. The education of children taught at home would be improved by introducing a register to bring down the number of persistently absent pupils, the party has said, while 60,000 more school places and a further 15 new free schools would be made available for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). By Jasmine Norden.

The curriculum and exams system are teaching pupils skills that will always be performed better by machine learning, the head of Epsom College, Sir Anthony Seldon, has warned. Addressing delegates at an event marking two years since the Times Education Commission published its findings, Sir Anthony said schools need to “prioritise what it means to be human” adding that although exams have a significant role in education, the results are “not all important”. By Katie Gibbons, The Times. 

The Labour Party has pledged to ban energy drinks for young people due to their “dangerously high” caffeine content. Officials have said they would prevent children under 16 from purchasing drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre. By Amy Gibbons and Blathnaid Corless, The Telegraph.

Writing in Tes with just a few weeks until the General Election, co-chief of the National Governance Association Emma Balchin calls for governors to be given more support. She says: "We are urging the next government to restore the education system to its rightful place of value and importance in our society. And governance plays a central part."

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.

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