Labour must abandon its plans to charge VAT on independent school fees if the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts that it will ultimately lose the taxpayer money, Lord Lexden has warned. Speaking to The Telegraph, the president of the Independent Schools Association said: “Is this crude party politics, or is it a serious effort to raise money for the state sector? That is where the OBR judgment is so central and that is why Labour should not be able to evade it.” By Camilla Turner.

In a blog for the Independent Schools Council (ISC), Lord Lexden shares what he would have said about Labour's VAT pledge in his opening speech for a House of Lords debate on independent schools, which was later cancelled following the prime minister's decision to call a General Election. 

In a feature for The Guardian, communities reporter Jedidajah Otte talks to families about Labour's plans for independent school fees. One parents speaks of her devastation at the policy, saying: "I can honestly say that I’ve never felt so worried." Another parent highlights how his children, who both have autism and ADHD, can only find the support they need in the independent sector. Hundreds of parents got in touch with the paper to share their views of the VAT policy, with a number of them expressing concerns about the impact it would have on children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and their own ability to continue to afford their child's independent school place. Some also said the pledge could have an impact on their voting intentions, with one parent, who regards himself as "very leftwing", explaining that "this [tax plan] is a shallow, regressive policy that will absolutely affect my vote. I cannot see myself voting Labour now."

Chief executive of the ISC Julie Robinson was interviewed by Nick Ferrari on LBC in light of Labour's tax plans for independent schools and, in particular, the threat to smaller schools. Ms Robinson said the ISC's main concern "is for the children who are facing disruption to their education, having to move schools owing to this policy, which might not even raise money for state schools in the end". In a separate LBC interview with Martin Stanford, the ISC CEO reiterated how it is difficult for schools to plan ahead financially, and emphasised the "devastating effects" VAT could have on children with SEND who do not have education, health and care plans (EHCPs). 

Analysts have said some of those who do withdraw from independent schools could be replaced by new families, with some warning that the new charge may encourage more families of children with SEND to apply for an EHCP to qualify for an exemption from fees. Warning of the tax policy's likely impact on smaller independent schools, Tom Richmond, director of education think tank EDSK, told The Times: “Half of independent schools have fewer than 300 pupils. A small number of pupils leaving could be a very large proportion of pupils in a smaller school. And if that tips that school over the edge financially [and it closes], then you’re potentially seeing a very large influx of pupils in a very small locality.” By Nicola Woolcock.

A survey by the National Governance Association (NGA), which covers 70 per cent of state schools in England, has found that governors have reported a “significant” rise in pupils applying to join mid-year as parents take their children out of the independent sector because they can no longer afford the fees.  The head of an 1,300-pupil school in Shropshire told The Sunday Times her school was oversubscribed and she had accepted several pupils from nearby independent schools after the pandemic. An analysis by the paper has also revealed the "hotspots" where pressure on state school places is likely to be most acute, many of which are in London (the analysis is published below halfway down the page). By Sian Griffiths, Venetia Menzies and Jessica Sharke. Blathnaid Corless has also covered news of the NGA survey for The Telegraph.

Labour risks triggering a revolt from teaching unions if it goes ahead with its tax plans for independent schools, according to The Telegraph. Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union, said he would “robustly defend” teachers against any redundancies or changes to salaries and benefits. Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, is also quoted, saying: "You can't expect to deliver in the context of higher demand and increased need on the part of children and young people without the resources being in place in the first instance." By Pieter Snepvangers.

Experts have warned that the pledge to add VAT to school fees could force a rise in part-time boarding. Chairman of the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) David Walker said that while there was not yet systematic evidence of such a trend, “it is a cost-cutting measure that some parents would certainly consider”. He added: "Many working parents value weekly and flexi boarding options, but the strength of boarding often lies in consistency of community." By Henry Bodkin and Poppy Wood, The Telegraph.

In an interview with Camilla Tominey on GB News, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper defended Labour's tax plans as “fair and sensible” but refused to explain how the party would find school places for pupils displaced from independent schools. Ms Cooper said: “They [independent schools] will need to pay the VAT just like everybody else does. It’s for them to decide then what they want to do about their fees.” By Blathnaid Corless, The Telegraph.

Anne McElvoy explores Labour's "lazy schools policy" in an opinion column for iNews. Warning that "there is no such thing as a free tax hit and there are also inconvenient truths Labour is ducking in this argument", Ms McElvoy concludes: "It’s a bumper-sticker policy for a much more serious question – which is, what does Labour really want to do to consolidate educational opportunity and by what means?"

Reference is made to the Independent Schools Council's (ISC) recent annual census across much of the weekend's coverage.

A survey of teachers and school leaders by the National Foundation for Educational Research has highlighted the issues they are most concerned about ahead of the General Election in July. According to the poll, 85 per cent of primary senior leaders said school funding is of the three most important issues determining their choice of electoral candidate, while secondary senior leaders said they are more likely to want the next government to focus on the recruitment and retention crisis (74 per cent). By Jasmine Norden, Tes.

Writing in Tes, digital expert and teacher Jonny Marrows offers six ways in which the use of iPads can help pupils with SEND – from instant translation to dictating notes. Mr Marrows explains: "The iPad is incredibly powerful for enabling students with additional needs to access support in discreet, flexible and independent ways, and the technology supports students alongside the traditional ways of working, enabling them to be better at both."

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