Writing to The Times, Richard Russell, headmaster of Colfe’s School, responds to recent reports highlighting the pressure on state school places and criticises ministers for their “lazy assumption that the state sector has the capacity to absorb the exodus from the independent sector”. He argues that the policy will necessitate additional teachers and schools, ultimately costing taxpayers more than the revenue raised. Emphasising the uneven distribution of capacity across year groups, Mr Russell concludes: “The case for rethinking this ill-considered policy has become overwhelming.”

Mark Steed, principal of Stamford School, challenges the claim that independent schools had previously benefited from a “tax break”, pointing out that education has historically been VAT-exempt in the UK. Mr Steed states: “Education in the UK has never been taxed - until now.”

Simon Bowes from Dorset warns that the "vindictive tax" will have a far-reaching impact, including on teachers and support staff whose jobs are now at risk. Mr Bowes calls for the prime minister to "focus on the damage this tax is going to have on our country’s education system and the people who serve it". 

The letters appear above halfway.

In a written question for the Treasury, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge asked whether the decision to not offer any exemptions from the VAT policy for service families included an assessment of the exemption of US personnel whose children attend British independent schools. Responding, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said: "The government greatly values the contribution of our serving military personnel. The Ministry of Defence has increased the funding allocated to the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) to account for the impact of any private school fee increases on the proportion of fees covered by the CEA in line with how the allowance normally operates. The changes mean that UK military families with a child at a mainstream boarding school can now claim over £30,000 per year. US personnel do not receive funding from the UK government for their school places. They can only claim back the VAT element of fees, under a scheme that entitles UK military personnel to reciprocal reliefs when visiting other NATO countries. The NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) means that visiting NATO personnel have access to Visiting Forces Relief (VFR), for example the VAT free purchase scheme which provides relief on goods and services to US personnel in the UK."

During a House of Commons debate on topical questions, Conservative MP John Cooper said the Opposition had pressed the government to extend the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) to 100 per cent for service families, but have since been told there would be no exemptions from VAT on school fees. Noting that the children of American servicemen and women are exempt, Mr Cooper asked: "Would it not be fair to extend that exemption to the men and women who serve our country?" Responding, Minister for Veterans and People Al Carns said: "There is a long-standing deal with other nations on the welfare of families and so on. This government are supporting our armed forces community. We will pay 90 per cent through the CEA. We have given service personnel the biggest pay rise, and we are addressing the recruitment and retention crisis that we were left with." Hansard.

Writing in Independent School Management Plus, Louise Brenlund explains that the new Employment Rights Bill is likely to have a range of implications for independent schools, especially in terms of employment practices, the protection of employees, and compliance with new legal requirements. Covering areas including strike action, rights to request flexible working, and probationary periods, Ms Brenlund outlines what schools can expect. Louise Brenlund is a partner and head of employment at Warners Solicitors.

Children in England experience significant variations in having their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) identified depending on school type, background and levels of absence, research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has found. The EPI report has revealed that pupils attending academies - rather than those in schools maintained by local authorities - or those living in heavily academised areas were less likely to be identified as having SEND when compared with other pupils. This may be due to fewer pupils with SEND enrolling in academies, under-identification, or it could be that academies are successfully meeting needs without formal identification, the EPI said. By Sally Weale, The Guardian. 

Most primary teachers wish to see minimum age requirements increased for popular social media and communication platforms, a Censuswide survey exclusively shared with Tes has revealed. The poll of 1,001 primary teachers found 51 per cent agreed that the age threshold for using TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp should be higher, while 50 per cent took the same view regarding video platforms YouTube and Twitch. The current minimum age requirement for TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp is 13 years old. By Cerys Turner.

The parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, a 15-year-old who died in 2016 after an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette, have launched a new programme to raise allergy awareness among school communities. Their charity, the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, is rolling out the £1 million Allergy School initiative, providing resources for nurseries, primary schools, and children's clubs. Developed partly with the King’s Foundation, the programme aims to train teachers and school staff to better understand and manage food allergies. By Liz Jackson, BBC News.

In an ISC blog marking International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Serena Repetto, a physics teacher at Highgate School and the London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham, explains how a long-running partnership project is inspiring more female pupils to discover the wonders of the universe.

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