Labour deliberately chose the "most disruptive" start date for its VAT on fees policy, internal government documents have revealed. Court documents obtained by The Telegraph show that ministers were still undecided about when to implement the tax changes two weeks before Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, announced they would be introduced in the middle of an academic year. The paper reports that ministers ultimately decided on the January 2025 start date so as to "maximise revenue". The documents also show the chancellor was warned eight months ago that the policy would probably lead to an extra 100 independent school closures, despite ministers only publicising the estimated figure last month. The article is accompanied by an image of the internal Treasury document, which details the 'pros and cons' of VAT timings. The Independent Schools Council (ISC), which is one of three groups challenging the government over its VAT policy, has criticised the policy's hurried rollout and said there had "effectively only been a few weeks for schools to properly get ready". Julie Robinson, the chief executive of the ISC, said in a witness statement that "the short window of time means that schools and parents have been forced to scramble". By Poppy Wood. 

Ministers refused to allow exemptions for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from the VAT on fees policy as doing so would lose revenue, according to court documents. Addressing the High Court yesterday, Barry Huggett, an expert in SEND, stated that around 6,500 children with additional needs could be forced to transfer from independent to state schools. He explained that only those with an education, health, and care plan (EHCP), which specify a particular independent school, will be exempt from the policy. Jeremy Hyam KC, representing two children with SEND in independent schools, said his clients, who do not have EHCPs, had been "failed" by the state system. "Their parents are not wealthy but have just been able to afford to send them to schools where the special educational provision they need can be provided — in one case using disability living allowance," he told the court. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. 

The High Court has heard that the government "has provided no figure of their own" on the number of children with SEND expected to move to state schools as a result of the VAT policy. Mr Hyam told the court: "We don’t know and the government still doesn’t know what the additional cost of those displaced children is." He said thousands of children with SEND could overwhelm the state sector, citing the case of an autistic child thriving at his independent school. The pupil's parents, unable to afford the fee increase, would be forced to send him to a state school that may not be equipped to meet his educational needs, he warned. By Poppy Wood, The Telegraph.

The VAT on fees policy discriminates against parents of Strictly Orthodox children who say access to an independent school which follows their particular faith is "essential", the High Court has also heard. Two parents of Strictly Orthodox Jewish children are part of the legal challenge, which began on Monday. In a statement released by Chinuch UK, a mother involved with the case said the tax poses "a direct threat to families like mine". By Lee Harpin, Jewish News. 

The government has defended its VAT on fees policy, telling the High Court it enhances "the fairness of the tax system overall". Barristers representing Rachel Reeves, as well as HM Revenue & Customs and the Department for Education, said they wanted to raise standards for state school pupils by making independent school parents pay "their fair share". Sir James Eadie KC, the First Treasury Counsel, told the court there was no obligation for the government to subsidise independent education in any way. The argument that increasing the cost to parents who choose an independent school would be an infringement of the common law "is plainly not right", he wrote in his submissions. By Vanessa Clarke, BBC News. 

Woodcote House School in Surrey has announced that it is to close at the end of the summer term. Dating back to 1816, the school has been run by the Paterson family since 1931 and its head, Oliver Paterson, is the fifth generation of the family to lead the school. In a letter to parents this week, proprietor Nick Paterson and his co-directors said the closure was "inevitable" since a "cruel combination of buffeting headwinds" had made the school "no longer sustainable". They added that the imposition of VAT on fees had "alarmed several families and contributed to a sharp fall in interest for September". By Irena Barker, Independent School Management Plus. 

In an article for CapX, David Smith explores the unintended consequences of the VAT on fees policy. He warns that taxing education hinders social mobility by shrinking the independent school sector, reducing bursaries, increasing competition for top state schools, and disproportionately impacting certain groups. Mr Smith works in an independent school. 

The court hearing is due to conclude today, and the judges are expected to issue a single judgement on the matters in writing at a later date. Reference is made to research by the ISC and several schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations are mentioned across today's coverage.

In a written question for the Treasury, Conservative MP Blake Stephenson asked why ministers had not modelled the potential impact of the VAT policy on economic growth. Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray replied: "At the Budget the government published the costing methodology for the measure. This included thorough analysis of the static costing and behavioural effects of the measure. In addition, the economic impact of the measure is included in the Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN), also published at the Budget. The OBR's economic forecast in October modelled the macroeconomic impacts of the Budget package, including the private schools measure." Hansard.

Bridget Phillipson will today call for more men to become teachers to act as role models for male pupils, warning that the behaviour and development of boys is a "defining issue of our time". Speaking at the Festival Of Childhood: Our Future, Our Voice this morning, an event organised by children's commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza, the education secretary will add that the responsibility to combat "toxic online influences" cannot rest with schools alone. By Cerys Turner, Tes. 

English teenagers have notably weaker social and emotional skills compared to their peers in many other developed nations, according to a report by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). Urging ministers to do more to support deprived children in schools, pre-schools and nurseries, the NFER warns that the weaknesses could make young people less employable unless they are addressed. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. 

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) monitors the national and educational press in order to keep independent schools up-to-date with relevant education news. The DNS is a service primarily for schools in membership of ISC associations, although other interested parties can choose to sign-up. We endeavour to include relevant news and commentary and, wherever possible, notable public letters. Where capacity allows, we may include links to ISC blogs, press statements and information about school or association events. News stories are selected based on their relevance to the independent sector as a whole. Editorial control of the DNS remains solely with the ISC.

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