In a written question in the House of Commons, Conservative MP Bradley Thomas asked if the education secretary will make an assessment of the potential merits of cooperation between state and independent schools on state schools. Schools minister Stephen Morgan replied, saying: "Around 70 per cent of private schools affiliated with the Independent Schools Council hold charitable status. As charities, they are required to demonstrate public benefit and one way in which they do that is through partnerships with state schools. This activity should continue."

In a separate question, Conservative MP Wendy Morton asked the chancellor how much revenue has been raised from the application of VAT to independent school fees since 1 January 2025. Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said: "The Annex to the Government Response to the Technical Note sets out the expected VAT revenue resulting from this measure and the costing methodology. The government estimates that it will raise £460 million this year, rising to £1,725 million in 2029/30. 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 liability 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. VAT returns are generally due one month and seven days after the end of the accounting period."

In a written question in the House of Lords, Lord Weir of Ballyholme asked what estimate ministers have made of the total revenue to be raised as a result of the proposed changes to business rates for independent schools. Treasury minister Lord Livermore replied: "Business rates are devolved. At Autumn Budget 2024, the government reconfirmed that it is removing private schools’ eligibility for business rates charitable rate relief in England from April 2025. This intervention will raise around £140 million per year. Business rates retention means that local authorities retain a proportion of all business rates revenue. As such, the increase in rates receipts due to the reduction in charitable rate relief for private schools will be shared between central and local government." Hansard.

More than 170,000 pupils in England missed at least half their school lessons last year, which is a record high, according to government figures published yesterday. In 2023-24, 2.3 per cent of children were "severely absent", which means they missed at least 50 per cent of possible classes, compared with 2.0 per cent in 2022-23. By Nadeem Badshah and PA Media, The Guardian.

In an interview with iNews, single mother Kirsti Hadley explains that she received £3,000 in compensation from Salford City Council after her son Callum, who has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), missed four months of schooling due to delays and poor communication in issuing his education, health and care plan (EHCP). Callum, who has been diagnosed with autism, ADHD and OCD, is one of 68,762 children with SEND who were severely absent in 2023/24. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the council failed to provide alternative education during this period, resulting in Callum's social withdrawal. The paper highlights how the case reflects the challenges faced by families seeking appropriate educational support for children with SEND, and quotes Ms Hadley, who warns: "Children have to fail first before they get any sort of help. And every time they fail, their needs get greater and greater." By Connie Dimsdale.

Ministerial reforms are unlikely to curb spending on independent special schools, experts have warned, as Tes analysis reveals that one in five councils have more than doubled their expenditure over the past four years. The findings suggest that in 29 councils, spending on independent schools for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in 2023-24 was more than double that of 2020-21. The Department for Education is now being urged to develop plans and a strategy for special school places. By John Roberts.

The education secretary is to review whether guidance on the use of smartphones in schools is working amid growing pressure from MPs to act on teenagers’ harmful use of social media. Officials have been tasked by Ms Phillipson with scrutinising whether schools in England are banning children’s phones and whether bans are effective. The current guidance states that ministers are "determined that all schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones throughout the school day - not only during lessons but break and lunchtimes as well". By Holly Bancroft and Archie Mitchell, The Independent.

The Telegraph reports that primary school pupils in Madrid will be banned from using laptops and tablets in lessons to protect their mental and physical health. Madrid’s regional government has said it is removing devices out of concern for children’s mental wellbeing, the impact of addiction to screens and exposure to inappropriate material online, pledging instead a return to traditional teaching methods. By James Badcock.

In an article for Independent School Management Plus, Helen Pike, master of Magdalen College School, welcomes the focus of the latest Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) report on boys' and men's education. Referring to the new TV drama Adolescence, which has raised public concern about the 'manosphere', Ms Pike argues that addressing boys' underachievement requires more than just combating harmful online influences. She says broader issues, such as socio-economic disadvantage and educational inequality, must also be tackled, especially for white working-class boys. Highlighting her school's own partnership programme and similar initiatives that support boys, Ms Pike stresses that government intervention needs to go further in addressing the issue. She writes: "The prospect of a Minister for Men might provoke eye rolls, but something needs to shift in our national conversation. The HEPI report’s findings also reinforce that the solution won’t and can’t only reside with schools, which are increasingly the default answer to fixing whatever ails us."

In the latest blog for the ISC, Matthew van Alderwegen and Charles Fillingham outline Solihull School's approach to navigating artificial intelligence (AI) safely and effectively. 

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