A number of parents talk to The Telegraph about the growing competition for state school places, attributing it to Labour’s VAT on fees policy, which has pushed more families into the system. Some admit to taking extreme measures, such as renting properties in catchment areas or using fake addresses, to secure spots at top-performing schools. Speaking to the paper, consumer expert at Zoopla Daniel Copley said: “It’s clear that the removal of VAT relief on private school fees is placing even more competition on school places; flouting the rules is even more endemic, no matter where you are in the country.” Reference is made to figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC). By Julie Henry.

According to iNews, Bridget Phillipson could be moved roles in a Cabinet reshuffle. It is understood that the education secretary’s handling of the Ofsted reforms has come under scrutiny, with critics questioning the decision to replace one-word judgements with report cards. The paper reports that Ms Phillipson has also been accused of being too ideological and therefore hampering her ability to successfully "sell" the government's VAT on fees policy. By Chloe Chaplain.

Loan providers have told The Telegraph that some parents are taking out flexible loans, some as high as 19 per cent, to cover the cost of rising school fees amid the government's VAT on fees policy. According to The School Fee Plan, a subsidiary of Premium Credit Limited, the number of parents borrowing money to pay for school fees across Britain was up 40 per cent in January, compared to the same period last year, with website traffic having doubled. By Pieter Snepvangers.

Writing to the New Statesman, president of the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Lord Lexden warns that David Kynaston and Francis Green's recent article overlooks the diversity within the independent school sector, focusing too much on elite institutions. Lord Lexden writes: "They ignore the many small independent schools that are almost unknown outside their localities but greatly cherished within them. More than 1,000 independent schools, 40 per cent of the total, have fewer than 100 pupils. Jewish and Muslim schools, charging fees of around £3,000 a year, are among them." He also highlights the crucial role played by independent schools in supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). On the preconceptions surrounding independent schools, Lord Lexden states: "Those who denounce the famous “public schools” as bastions of privilege should stop depicting them as typical of the sector." The letter appears near the top of the page.

In a letter to The Times, Chris Tailby (HM Customs and Excise, 2002–05) supports Mark Steed, principal of Stamford School, in stating that the VAT exemption for independent school fees was not a “tax break” or “tax loophole”. Noting that "school fees of the kind under discussion were exempt from VAT under the European VAT directives which, before the UK left the EU, the UK was required to follow," Mr Tailby concludes: “One could say that VAT on school fees is part of the ‘Brexit dividend.’” The letter appears below halfway down the page.

In a House of Commons written question, Conservative MP Bradley Thomas asked whether the education secretary has plans to increase the grading of students that move to state schools from independent schools. Responding, education minister Catherine McKinnell said: "This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its chief regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, to write to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses." 

In a written question in the House of Lords, Democratic Unionist Party peer Lord Weir of Ballyholme asked what estimate ministers have made of the likely increase in pupil numbers in state schools in the next year arising from a reduction in the number of pupils being independently educated. Stating that her response relates only to England, Baroness Smith of Malvern said the government estimates that approximately 3,000 pupils will move from independent schools to state schools in the 2024/25 academic year, while in the long-term "steady state", 37,000 pupils will "leave or never enter" the UK independent school sector as a result of the VAT on fees policy, which represents around six per cent of the current independent school population. Having provided some further statistics on pupil movement, Baroness Smith concluded: "As such, the impact on the state education system as a whole is expected to be very small. Local authorities, devolved governments and schools have processes in place to support pupils moving between schools. Children move between and within the private sector and the state-funded sector every year, for a range of reasons." Hansard. 

Ministers have rejected calls to introduce a right for parents to know what children are being taught in schools after voting against an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would have granted parents access to classroom materials. The Conservatives, who tabled the amendment, argued the change would improve lesson transparency, following concerns that schools blocked parents from viewing sex education materials due to copyright and confidentiality. By Poppy Wood, The Telegraph.

Writing in Tes, author Alex Quigley warns that while the ability to identify and name barriers to learning is generally seen as a positive development, the situation regarding special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) diagnosis is more complex than it appears. He states: "A SEND label begins to highlight a pattern of behaviours to educators, whether they pick up on this consciously or not, and this spotlight can be both positive and negative."

In a new blog for the ISC, Dan Clarke, coordinator of the Cheltenham Education Partnership, suggests ways in which cross-sector partnerships can be enhanced to ensure mutual benefits for all involved. 

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