A debate yesterday in the House of Commons on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill highlighted key issues for independent schools, particularly around safeguarding, phone use, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. An amendment was considered to extend the profit cap to independent special schools, aiming to curb excessive fees. Raising concerns about rising costs in independent special schools, Liberal Democrat MP Helen Maguire said: "These schools are often backed by private equity firms, and they are charging local authorities extortionate fees - on average double those in the state sector. They are draining public funds, but councils have no choice but to place children in these schools due to a lack of state provision. Does my hon. Friend agree that extending the profit cap to independent schools is essential to protect public finances and ensure fairer funding for children with special educational needs?" Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson added that while "there are many independent special schools that do an excellent job and are certainly not profiteering", the SEND crisis and lack of specialist places "have led to a growth in private provision that is crippling local authority finances". Schools minister Stephen Morgan later said: "It would not be appropriate to extend the profit cap powers to a different sector before we sent out a plan to deal with issues in the SEND system. We want to consider the role and function of independent special schools holistically, and we will set out our plans for SEND reform in due course." The debate continues today.

Conservative MP Patrick Spencer submitted a written question in which he asked how much input VAT is forecast to be repayable to independent schools for the first quarter that the VAT is levied; how much output VAT is expected to be raised from these schools in the first quarter; and what the net payment to independent schools is for the first quarter of this implementation under the current HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) interpretation of the guidance. Responding, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said: "The Annex to the Government Response to the Technical Note sets out the forecast input VAT and calculation of output VAT and net VAT liability resulting from this measure. VAT revenue overall is recognised in the National Accounts on an accruals basis. As set out in the above Annex, the VAT liability in 2024/25 is time apportioned for the implementation date of 1 January 2025. The actual VAT input tax and output tax reported on VAT returns for any month or quarter will depend on various factors, including the date when schools meet the requirement to register for VAT (if not already registered), and which of the staggered quarterly accounting periods apply to the business."

Mr Spencer also posed a written question asking whether food for individuals living at (a) school and (b) home will have VAT payable on it under HMRC's guidance published last November. Mr Murray responded, explaining that VAT on meals depends on how they are charged. If included in a single education or boarding fee, meals are taxed at 20 per cent, but if charged separately and closely related to education, they may be VAT-exempt. He concluded: "Generally, meals supplied during the school day will be closely related to education." Hansard.

A review of the curriculum, commissioned by Bridget Phillipson, is to say that pupils are being made to take too many academic subjects at GCSE, limiting their achievement and engagement in school. The education secretary's study will also say that schools have been incentivised to neglect vocational and art subjects in favour of more traditional GCSEs, and will call for changes to the curriculum to support a broader range of subjects while maintaining academic rigour. The review could lead to the abolition of the EBacc system, which encouraged schools to prioritise "traditional" subjects over more vocational GCSEs. By Oliver Wright and Georgia Lambert, The Times. 

Michael Gove has claimed that Ms Phillipson's school reforms will "blight the prospects of children and hold our economy back". Along with fellow former education secretaries Sir Gavin Williamson and Nadhim Zahawi, Mr Gove is warning that the changes to academy schools and the curriculum review will have a devastating impact on the most disadvantaged children. They are also concerned that the rankings of British pupils could drop in international education league tables. By Daniel Martin, The Telegraph.

Speaking to The Times, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr Sami Timimi critiques the growing trend of diagnosing children with conditions including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, arguing that many behaviours are natural variations in development rather than disorders. Stressing that he is is not blaming parents, but rather that it is parents who are being "exploited", Dr Timimi calls for a more thoughtful approach to diagnosis, emphasising the importance of considering cultural, familial, and personal factors rather than medicalising childhood behaviour too quickly. By Anna Maxted.

Writing in Tes, Colin Bell explores the growing global demand for a British international school education and emphasises the importance of networks in supporting the sector's continued success. Highlighting the critical role that partnerships and collaboration have played in the sector's expansion and ongoing achievements, he writes: "The growth of international schools over the past decade has been clear to see to anyone involved in the sector but we must remember that this had not happened in a vacuum." Colin Bell is CEO of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS).

In an interview with Independent School Management Plus, Jaideep Barot, chair of The Heads' Conference (HMC) and head of Bristol Grammar School, reflects on his own career path and some of the challenges currently facing the independent sector. Emphasising the importance of all schools being more inclusive and connected with their communities, Mr Barot says: "The desire to be here for the greater good gives us relevance at a time when, quite rightly, the relevance of independent education is being questioned and tested."

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