Sarah Cunnane, head of media and communications at the Independent Schools Council (ISC), spoke to Tom Swarbrick on LBC yesterday following reports that high-net-worth parents are considering leaving the UK amid the VAT on school fees policy. She said that while these individuals don't represent the majority of fee-paying parents, "if families of high net worth are saying that they're going to be taking their children out in these numbers, you have to wonder how it's going to be for the far more typical family in choosing an independent school for their child". She went on to explain how around a third of pupils attending ISC schools receive some form of financial assistance, and many families resort to downsizing, taking on extra jobs, or taking out a second mortgage in order to afford the fees. On the issue of pupil movement, Ms Cunnane cited findings from an ISC survey conducted in September last year, saying: "We saw that 10,540 children had left the sector already, a further 2,500 had given notice [to leave in January] - and this is right at the start of September, so we expect that to have increased. That's nearly 13,000 children leaving independent schooling; the government estimates were 3,000, so you can see that the government numbers on this are already way off." Listen from 00:06:05. 

In a House of Commons written question, Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for The Wrekin, asked the education secretary if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the VAT on fees policy on "the shared provision of (a) SEND support, (b) sporting facilities and (c) SEND school transport between the independent and state school sectors". In response, school minister Stephen Morgan reiterated the support available for pupils with SEND in the form of education, health and care plans, and referenced the government's announcement of a £1 billion uplift in high needs funding in the 2025/26 financial year. On the subject of sporting facilities, he explained how independent schools may share these in partnership with state schools, demonstrating their public benefit, adding: "The government does not expect the introduction of VAT to reduce a school's obligations to show public benefit or for partnership activity to decrease." In regard to SEND school transport, Mr Morgan mentioned the Department for Education's (DfE) home-to-school travel policy, adding that this is not expected to be impacted by the VAT policy. 

Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells Mike Martin asked the education secretary "what assessment she has made of the potential impact of applying VAT to private school fees on children attending extracurricular activities at private schools, despite not attending them". Responding, Mr Morgan said no such assessment has been made. He added that services delivered by third-party providers at independent schools are unaffected by the policy, as are school clubs that consist "solely of childcare" and therefore do not fall within the definition of education. 

Conservative MP Shivani Raja asked the education secretary what assessment she has made of the potential impact of VAT on fees on demand for state school places; "and what steps she is taking to ensure the adequacy of the availability of school places in (a) Leicester East constituency and (b) England". In response, Mr Morgan said: "The department has made no estimate of the number of pupils in individual local authority areas who will leave the independent school system as a result of VAT on school fees. With regard to England, the government predicts that in the long-term steady state, there will be 37,000 fewer pupils in the private sector in the UK as a result of the removal of the VAT exemption applied to school fees." He added: "Local authorities routinely support parents who need a state-funded school place, including where private schools have closed. Where local authorities are experiencing difficulties in ensuring there are enough school places for children that need them, the department will offer support and advice."

Gregory Stafford, Conservative MP for Farnham and Bordon, asked for an estimate of the number of children who have moved from independent to state schools as a result of the VAT policy in Hampshire and in Surrey. Answering, Mr Morgan said the DfE "has made no separate estimate of the number of pupils in individual local authority areas", and again cited the government's prediction that there will be 37,000 fewer pupils in the independent sector as a result of the tax policy. 

In a House of Lords written question, Lord Taylor of Warwick asked the government what assessment it has made of "the impact of VAT on private school fees on international students studying at private schools in the UK". Baroness Smith of Malvern replied, saying of the 37,000 pupils predicted to leave the sector, 2,000 are expected to be "international pupils who do not move into the UK state system, or domestic pupils moving into homeschooling". She added that foreign national children of compulsory school age are required to receive a suitable full-time education, and "if they are resident in the UK, they will normally have the right to attend state-funded and independent schools in England". Hansard.

Schools need a national multi-agency forum to improve safety and security, according to the NASUWT. Dr Patrick Roach, the union's general secretary, has urged ministers to ensure schools are "fully supported in dealing with the rising threat of violence". The call comes a week after schools across the country were placed in lockdown after receiving threatening emails, and in the same month that a 15-year-old was stabbed to death at school. By Cerys Turner, Tes.

A study led by the University of St Andrews has found that children perform cognitive tasks faster on their own, rather than in the presence of a stranger, raising "exciting" questions for future studies into learning and development. The university says the study is "unique in showing that a social aspect as simple as the presence of an adult is enough to influence how children exert their attention". By Henry Hepburn, Tes. 

Donald Trump's return to office could reverse years of the UK's declining popularity among international students, according to the British Council, as fewer choose to study in the US. A new report suggests the trend will dovetail with greater restrictions in Australia and Canada on international students, making the UK appear the most welcoming English-speaking country. By Rachel Hall, The Guardian. 

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