Sir Ed Davey has said the independent education sector has “an absolute right to exist” in remarks distancing himself from Labour's plans to add VAT to school fees. In an interview with ITV's Robert Peston, during which the leader of the Liberal Democrats was asked whether he agreed with the opposition's tax proposals, Sir Ed said: “On that particular issue I’ve always felt that private schools have an absolute right to exist and I think they play a role.” He added: “We need to get a lot more money into the state system to improve schools that the vast majority of people go to. But on this specific point, I’ve never thought in principle that VAT should be applied to education. I just think it shouldn’t be.” By Dominic Penna, The Telegraph.

David Gajadharsingh, principal of The Royal Ballet School, has warned that Labour's tax plans could "destroy opportunity" for talented children from poorer backgrounds and risk harming the reputation of ballet in the UK. In an extensive interview with The Telegraph during a visit to his school, Mr Gajadharsingh called on Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider the effects of the VAT pledge on both social mobility and the performing arts, and to exempt pupils in receipt of government sponsorship. Referencing the Billy Elliot story, which sees a child from a disadvantaged background afforded the chance to study and excel in ballet, Mr Gajadharsingh warned that “a good number of our parents would just not be able to stand a 20 per cent increase on what they contribute at the moment". By Henry Bodkin.

Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, CEO of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), has written to The Times responding to research findings by the Institute for Fiscal  Studies (IFS) suggesting Labour’s plan to impose VAT on school fees would have only a “relatively small effect” with "about 20,000 to 40,000" pupils moving from independent schools into state schools. On the IFS's "purely qualitative view", Mr Eliott Lockhart describes the potential disruption to the education of so many children as the policy's "collateral damage". Highlighting the diversity within the independent sector, and the fact that ISA member schools are primarily small schools with fewer than 200 pupils, Mr Eliott Lockhart adds: "Labour’s policy would treat all independent schools as if they were the same and would put the viability of some schools in the balance. The education landscape would be impoverished were they to close." The letter can be found a quarter of the way down the page. 

In an article for Tes, assistant general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union James Bowen calls for the next government to make special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) education provision a priority. "There are few higher priorities than making sure the needs of some of the most vulnerable children are properly met", he writes.

Writing in Tes, Dr Sophie King-Hill shares the views of some of the young people who provided feedback for a Department for Education report connected to the government's ongoing relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) consultation. Summarising the key takeaways from the report, she explains how youngsters are keen to see "major changes" to the way they are taught the subject. Dr King-Hill is an associate professor at the University of Birmingham.

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has said teaching pupils about D-Day in schools is crucial to ensuring that a new world war with Russia and China does not break out. Sir Iain's comments come after the King said Britain must never forget the D-Day generation, urging the nation not to take a “passive” role in listening to their tales of bravery and courage. By Milad Sherzad, The Telegraph.

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