During a debate on the National Insurance Contributions Bill, Conservative peer Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon asked the Treasury minister to comment on the impact of taxing the independent school sector. He asked: "After assessing the imposition of that, it is now going to be impacted by national insurance too. Can he also comment on the impact on the teachers in terms of pension provision?" Lord Livermore replied: "We have published an impact assessment for both that policy and this policy. We have no intention of publishing further impact assessments."

In two related questions for the Treasury in the House of Lords, Democratic Unionist Party peer Lord Weir of Ballyholme asked what assumptions were used in estimating the revenue from VAT on independent school fees, and whether such assumptions take into account costs incurred as a result of pupils transferring to state schools. In his second question, Lord Weir asked for an estimate of the additional revenue that will be raised by the VAT on fees policy. In response to both questions, Treasury minister Lord Livermore provided revenue estimates, and details about the assumptions and methodology used. Regarding the additional costs on state schools resulting from pupil transfers, he said: "Based on average 2024 to 2025 per-pupil spending in England, the government expects the revenue costs of pupils entering the state sector as a result of the VAT policy across the UK to steadily increase to a peak of around £270 million per annum after several years. Overall, this means that expected revenue will substantially outweigh additional cost pressures. The funding raised by this measure will help deliver the government’s commitments relating to education and young people."

In a separate question, Lord Weir asked why UK military personnel have not been exempted from VAT on school fees, in contrast to the exemption provided to US military personnel in the UK. Lord Livermore replied, saying: "As part of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), 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. VFR is a reciprocal agreement, only available to the NATO Forces visiting another country and not to those of the Host Nation. 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."

In written questions in the House of Commons, Conservative MP Andrew Snowden asked for an estimate of the revenue from applying business rates to independent schools in the constituency of Fylde, and for an estimate of the revenue from applying VAT to independent schools in Fylde, in the next financial year. Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said ministers do not have an estimate of the revenue from this measure specifically for this constituency, adding that increased business rates revenue will be shared between central and local government under the business rates retention scheme. Responding to Mr Snowden's second question, Mr Murray referenced the government's response to the technical note on applying VAT to school fees and business rates charitable rate relief. Mr Murray added that this includes the costing methodology and a year-by-year breakdown of the revenue impact, including for 2025/26. Hansard.

Talking to Independent School Management Plus, the enterprise team at Canford School explain how they are minimising fee increases by maximising commercial income. Summarising their strategy, they say: "Our rationale is two-fold. Financially, we want to generate income to support the school, diversify our income base and provide more staff with year-round jobs. Secondly, we have an amazing site that we want as many people as possible to enjoy and take advantage of."

Yvette Cooper has expressed her support for the use of metal detectors in schools following the fatal stabbing of a teenager in Sheffield earlier this week. Speaking during a phone-in on LBC, the home secretary said she wanted “much stronger” action to address knife and youth crime, amid a record rise in offences across numerous regions including London. “I would support schools that want to [use metal detectors], because schools need to be kept safe,” Ms Cooper said. By Charles Hymas, The Telegraph. 

Referrals to the government’s anti-terrorism Prevent scheme involving children will be “routinely” escalated so more vulnerable young people are given support, following a rapid learning review of the programme. Schools Week revealed last month that schools are increasingly referring children but that fewer than one in 10 is receiving support through the scheme. Among 14 recommendations for improvements, the review said the programme should consider “routinely referring” reports involving children and those with “complex needs” to “channel panels”, which involve the local authority, counter-terrorism police, social services, and education and mental health professionals. By Rosa Furneaux.

Children are starting secondary school already addicted to vaping, Welsh health minister Sarah Murphy has warned. While giving evidence to the Senedd's health committee on legislation to ban single-use vapes, Ms Murphy stressed the importance of providing support for children and young people affected by the habit when the ban becomes law on 1 June. She added that some children "are having to leave lessons two or three times to vape". By Teleri Glyn Jones, BBC News.

A feature in Tes examines the latest Department for Education (DfE) data to find out how many children now require support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and the extent to which this number has grown in recent years. According to the DfE's figures, as of 2024, 1,673,205 pupils in schools in England have SEND, which represents 18.4 per cent, or almost a fifth, of the school population. This marks a 6.4 per cent increase on 2023. The paper looks at what comes next for SEND funding and states: "There needs to be a solution, and fast." By Ellen Peirson-Hagger.

In the ISC's final blog marking Children's Mental Health Week, The Reverend Paul Gooding, head of wellbeing at Abingdon School, explains how the school has implemented a multipronged approach to support students, staff, parents and carers in promoting positive mental health.

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