The head of Bedales School has said Labour's VAT policy amounts to "a levelling down" and that it is unfair to punish independent schools for a lack of funding in the state sector. Speaking to the Daily Mail after addressing the issue at The Heads’ Conference (HMC) annual conference earlier this week, Will Goldsmith called for a "longer-term" plan, and warned: "Ultimately, the state sector is grossly underfunded and it's not going to get better overnight." Mr Goldsmith added that the fallout from the "dangerous" policy could deter families abroad from enrolling their children at UK independent schools. He said: "Looking at the independent sector in the UK without seeing it in the international context is a danger." Reference is made to figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC). By Liz Ivens and Eleanor Harding. 

The mother of a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has told BBC News the government's VAT plans have turned her family's lives "upside down". Naomi Keegan said she and her husband chose independent schools for both their children because they were not thriving at their state schools, but the family is now anticipating the combined fees rising by £8,000. "Having found places that are suitable for them it feels like having the rug pulled out from under our feet", said Mrs Keegan. By Kevin Hay.

Writing in Tes, academic skills adviser at the University of Stirling Josh Thorpe says artificial intelligence (AI) literacy can enhance pupil engagement and learning by encouraging active recall, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills. Despite its risks, Mr Thorpe suggests teachers embrace AI: "Instead of seeing AI as a genie in a bottle that helps students to cheat, educators can teach students to view it as a space for thinking", he says.

Tes highlights a growing speech and language crisis in UK schools, where nearly 15 per cent of children aged 24 to 30 months are lacking expected communication skills, and around 20 per cent are falling short in early language learning. With the pandemic having exacerbated existing challenges, experts are calling for targeted interventions, better identification of speech and language needs, and improved teacher training. By Zofia Niemtus.

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