In a House of Commons written question, Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston Neil O'Brien asked the education secretary what steps her department is taking to support state schools as pupils transfer from their independent school to a state school as a result of the VAT on fees policy. Responding, Minister for Early Education Stephen Morgan said the removal of the VAT exemption on independent school fees is expected to see 37,000 pupils moving out of the independent sector, with 35,000 entering the state sector and 2,000 opting for home-schooling or other alternatives. This state sector rise, he said, represents less than 0.5 per cent of state school pupils. Mr Morgan added that local authorities, tasked with securing education for all children, will manage the increased demand for state-funded places through existing processes. 

In a separate question, Mr O'Brien asked the education secretary what the direct cost of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) moving from independent schools to state schools as a result of the policy will be to the state education sector. In response, Mr Morgan said: "The impact on individual local authorities will interact with other pressures and vary. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide full-time education for all children of statutory school age in their area, suitable for their age, aptitude, ability and any special educational needs and/or disabilities. The department works with local authorities to help them fulfil their duty to secure school places. Requirements for state-funded places for children that would have attended a private school will be addressed in each local authority through normal processes."

In a House of Lords written question for the Treasury, Lord Botham asked ministers what consideration they have given to phasing in the introduction of VAT for independent schools. The Lords Treasury Minister Lord Livermore outlined the reasons why the VAT on fees policy is being introduced, when it will commence and how much revenue it is forecast to raise. He added: "Since the announcement on 29 July, HMRC has taken action to support private schools through the change: providing detailed guidance; and allocating additional resource to process VAT registration applications. HMRC continues to engage with schools and the organisations that represent them."

Lord Botham also asked what consideration ministers have given to making independent schools eligible for transitional relief for business rates, to which Lord Livermore replied: "Where a school in England has charitable status, the government will remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rates relief from April 2025. Transitional relief limits how much ratepayers’ bills can change each year as a result of changes to a property's rateable value and changes to the multiplier at a revaluation. As such, support provided through transitional relief is unaffected by changes in other business rates reliefs and their eligibility." Hansard.

According to a new study by University College London, pupils at fee-paying schools in England no longer outperform their state school peers in core GCSE exams once results are adjusted for socioeconomic background. Researchers have found that before adjustment, independent school pupils achieve on average four fifths of a grade higher across eight GCSE subjects, but once socioeconomic status is taken into account the difference is close to zero. Commenting on the findings, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Julie Robinson said: “Exam achievements by pupils from all types of schools should be celebrated. Families choose independent schools for a variety of reasons, including the extracurricular offer, the holistic education experience and the breadth of subjects available for young people to study.” By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

Education reforms introduced by Michael Gove that have pushed schools to focus on five core GCSE subjects could be abolished amid plans to overhaul the national curriculum. Closing tomorrow, a consultation into a wide-ranging review of education could result in a cut to the content of some GCSEs and the number of exams taken within each subject. The independent review, led by professor Becky Francis and education secretary Bridget Phillipson, is also expected to make recommendations that boost the uptake of arts subjects. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. 

The Telegraph takes a closer look at Becky Francis's career and the reasons why ministers have chosen her to review the national curriculum. A long-term adviser to the Education Select Committee, the professor has been involved in steering UK education policy since 2011, more recently vowing only to tackle “the most significant and pressing issues”. By Jim Norton.

Delays in assessing the needs of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and issuing education, health and care plans (EHCPs) “is making children more vulnerable” to serious youth violence and putting them at greater risk of harm, inspectors have warned. A report on agencies’ responses to serious youth violence said “problems can escalate while they wait for an assessment or support”. In one area children had to wait a “shocking” 10 years for a service – by which time they would be adults. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week. 

The rate at which primary school pupils are being suspended from state schools in England has more than doubled in the last 10 years, BBC analysis has found. In primary schools, almost 90 per cent of those permanently excluded over the past five years also had special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). By Kate McGough and Elaine Dunkley.

In the ISC's latest blog, library manager Sarah Huck, from Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle, comments on the decline in children reading for pleasure and provides actionable strategies for schools to foster a love for reading.

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