In an extensive article for Spear's, Martin Vander Weyer explores Labour's tax policy, the impact it could have on children at independent and state schools, and the threat it poses to bursary provision. Emphasising his school's commitment to continuing its partnership work with state schools and maintaining its means-tested bursaries, head of Rugby School Gareth Parker-Jones says: "We just hope Labour will do a full impact assessment of this policy before it’s imposed – and we’d love to be involved in that conversation." Sir Anthony Seldon, head of Epsom College, warns that "it would be quite wrong to think all independent schools can cope with VAT". Martin Vander Weyer is business editor of The Spectator and a governor of Ampleforth College. 

Tax experts have warned that parents paying independent school fees in advance could be “sleepwalking” into protracted tax disputes. Speaking to The Guardian, experts have said that schools using the schemes could face future legal challenges from HM Revenue and Customs, and be left with a significant tax bill that they could then try to pass on to parents. By Sally Weale and Richard Adams. 

Writing in the Daily Express, commentator Esther Krakue questions Labour's tax plans and considers their wider impact. She warns: "With about 550,000 pupils now in independent schools, even a 10 per cent cut in private school enrolment would mean an influx of about 55,000 students into state schools." 

Columnist and assistant editor Michael Deacon writes in The Telegraph on why he believes Labour should "ditch its pledge" to tax independent school fees. Describing the party's tax plans as "misguided", Mr Deacon adds: "[Labour] shouldn’t be trying to drive private schools out of business. Instead, it should be doing all it can to support them."

Limited funding commitments for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) made by the main political parties in England “pose a serious threat” to provision, according to a report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI). It has warned that schools, local authorities and some of the most vulnerable pupils “are at risk” if the next government does not address the challenges of the SEND system. Tes.

The Labour Party could narrow the teacher supply gap by 7,000 through a combination of higher pay, larger bursaries and retention payments, but analysis by the National Foundation for Educational Research has found only 2,000 would be the “new” teachers Labour has promised. Many subjects would also continue to under-recruit even after such a package was introduced, according to the findings, suggesting Labour will need to go further if it comes to power. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week. 

As the General Election draws near, Tes takes a look at the main political parties’ plans for schools as outlined in their manifestos. The article refers to Sir Keir Starmer's plans to impose VAT on independent school fees as "arguably, Labour’s most high-profile education policy". The article adds that the Liberal Democrats do not support Labour's policy, although the party would support a review of independent schools' charitable status. By Cerys Turner.

In an article marking World Refugee Day, headteacher Stephen Farmer explains how his school has worked with refugee families to make them feel part of the community in Devon. Tes.

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