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Councils spend £2bn a year on sending pupils with special needs to independent schools, MPs reveal
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Independent sector
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Councils are spending £2 billion each year to send pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to independent schools amid the government's VAT on fees policy, MPs have revealed. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found spending has increased by 46 per cent in four years, with councils having to fund places at independent schools for children with SEND because of a lack of "capacity" in the state sector. The PAC's report also warned that many young people with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) are not able to be accommodated in state schools. Speaking to the Daily Mail, a spokesman for the campaign group Education Not Taxation said: "The PAC’s findings show how much the government relies on independent schools to serve the most vulnerable children, which calls into question yet again Labour’s divisive rhetoric and ill-judged attack on these schools." By Eleanor Harding.
Writing in Independent School Management Plus, head of Bolton School Philip Britton says ministers must assess whether the VAT on fees policy is having the intended impact on local state schools, adding that "we must hold the government to account on this". On how the assessment should be carried out, he explains: "I strongly believe this must be done locally and that every MP should monitor impact in their own area. State schools and independent schools should work together to make sure there is the intended gain arising from the obvious detriment." Praising the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and HMC (The Heads' Conference) for bringing "a sharp focus to the human side of the policy", Mr Britton also expresses concern about the policy's impact on bursary provision at his school, saying: "By the end of this government, around 150 additional pupils who could have received a bursary at our school will miss out."
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Committee invites evidence on Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
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Education policy
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A parliamentary committee reviewing the government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools bill is seeking evidence from the sector. After passing its first and second readings in the House of Commons, the bill will now be examined by a public bill committee, which will review it in detail and hear oral evidence from sector leaders. The committee will meet for the first time on 31 January and report by 11 February, but may conclude earlier, so is requesting written submissions promptly. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.
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Forcing children to clear plates may worsen obesity crisis, nutritionists warn
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Health
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Parents pressuring children to finish their meals could be contributing to Britain’s obesity crisis, nutritionists have warned. A British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) poll found 37 per cent of parents often enforce this habit, while large portions exacerbate the issue. Bridget Benelam, nutrition communications manager for the BNF, said: "Research has shown that large portions of food encourage both adults and children to eat more, so getting portion sizes right is an important element of having a balanced diet that supports a healthy body weight." By Jane Kirby, The Independent.
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MCC to launch new state school competition as Eton v Harrow remains
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Sport
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The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is addressing the decline of cricket in state schools by launching a new national competition for boys' and girls' teams, culminating in finals at Lord's Cricket Ground in London next year. The MCC is understood to be hoping to work with independent schools on the competition to ensure that teams from state schools have facilities to play their matches. By Will Macpherson, The Telegraph.
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Ministers set to bring in university free speech law
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Higher education
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The government is expected to reintroduce legislation to protect free speech on university campuses. Initially passed in 2023 under the Conservative government, the Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act was not implemented after Labour's election win due to concerns about its impact on student welfare. A government source has now said efforts are underway to revise it. By Ben Wright and Alex Smith, BBC News.
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School exchange: Berkhamsted and Adeyfield Academy
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ISC blog
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In a blog for the ISC, Richard Thompson, assistant vice principal (external relations) at Berkhamsted School, reflects on a recent collaboration with Adeyfield Academy, where students came together to share learning strategies and enhance their personal development skills.
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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.
Sign-up to the email service is available on our website.
Members can contact the ISC if they know in advance of news, letters or opinions that are likely to feature in the media, or are aware of existing coverage which they would like to see featured in the DNS.
Headlines and first-line summaries are written by the ISC with the link directing to the source material. You should read and comply with the terms and conditions of the websites to which we link.
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