Teachers at a number of independent schools are taking strike action against pay and pension cuts, suggesting that staff in the sector are becoming increasingly active in trade unions, The Sunday Times reports. Figures from the National Education Union (NEU) show there have been 23 formal strike ballots at independent schools this year, only slightly below the 27 for the larger academies sector. Speaking to the paper, deputy chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Simon Nathan said schools have had to make tough decisions in "an incredibly challenging environment", amid rising employer national insurance contributions, the loss of business rates relief, and the imposition of VAT on school fees. By Louise Eccles. 

Writing to The Telegraph, Dr Millan Sachania warns that the government's VAT on fees policy is "an attack on hard-working teachers". Dr Sachania says the tax, along with rising national insurance contributions and the removal of business rates relief, "has driven many schools into financial distress". The former headteacher of two independent schools concludes: "If the unions wish to protect their members in the independent sector, they must acknowledge the damage done by a punitive, ideologically driven policy that endangers not only teachers’ jobs, but the education of half a million young people."

Michael Johnstone from Bath refers to his own personal experience of the VAT on fees policy and argues that the full effect of the tax "will only be felt in about two years' time". Pointing out that education is a long-term commitment, he adds: "It is too soon to make judgments about whether private schools are crying wolf. From what I know to be happening I don’t think they are."

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Writing in The Sunday Times, Dame Rachel de Souza says parents should expect to make difficult decisions over their children’s smartphone usage rather than try to be their friend. The children’s commissioner for England adds that "if we are serious about protecting our children, we have to look at our own behaviour". She writes: "Children may not have the language or experience to know, for example, that going to school is the best decision for their future. That hours in front of a screen will not bring joy or purpose. That you must not recreate the things you see online, because they will cause pain."

Social media influencers such as Andrew Tate are fuelling a rise in misogyny in schools – with some teachers claiming boys are even refusing to talk to female staff, a poll by the NASUWT has found. Almost three in five (59 per cent) of the more than 5,800 teachers surveyed said that they believed social media has contributed to a worsening of pupils' behaviour in class. The findings were shared during the teaching union's annual conference in Liverpool over the Easter weekend. The Telegraph. 

Teachers and parents do not approve of Ofsted’s plans for colour-coded report cards, according to a new report. The Alternative Big Consultation was established by two former senior Ofsted inspectors, Professor Colin Richards and Frank Norris, who say that any changes to the system should be delayed. Only 11 per cent of respondents thought the proposals were an improvement and 62 per cent thought they were worse. The inspectorate is seeking public responses to its planned reforms, which are to be introduced in November. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. 

The Confederation of School Trusts (CST), which represents around 80 per cent of academy schools and trusts, has now submitted its formal response to Ofsted’s proposed reforms. Schools Week summarises the CST's six key suggestions, which include removing the standalone inclusion criteria. By Lydia Chantler-Hicks.

Teachers are meeting fewer parents to discuss their child's progress since the pandemic, according to a report from the Centre for Social Justice. The Growth isn’t Good Enough report, which analysed data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), revealed that "parental involvement has plummeted" in schools between 2018 and 2022. The think tank, founded by Sir Iain Duncan Smith, said it demonstrated a "crisis of parental involvement" in UK schools. By Albert Tait, The Telegraph.

Writing in The Independent, Baroness Longfield says ministers' plans to create "the healthiest generation of children" cannot be effective when so much junk food advertising takes place away from screens. Calling for the government to go further than just banning such adverts online, the former children's commissioner and current chair of food activist movement Bite Back writes: "The ban should be extended to all outdoor ads for unhealthy food and drink, including billboards, bus stops and telephone boxes." 

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