The Daily Mail has been investigating the impact of the government's VAT on fees policy on independent schools since it was introduced. An extensive article on the issue begins: "The casualty list currently includes at least 15 schools in the process of closing, on top of eight already gone. That is just the start." As part of its investigation, the paper asked the Department for Education if it could confirm whether education secretary Bridget Phillipson had visited any independent schools, to which the following reply was received: "Private schools are private businesses and the Secretary of State for Education is focused on improving state-funded education which serves 93 per cent of children in England." James Wilding, principal of Claires Court, shares the emails he sent to the education secretary's office both before and since the election, asking for an opportunity to explain how the independent sector can work more productively with state schools. Mr Wilding explains that he eventually received a 'thank you for your correspondence' reply but nothing more. The paper also talks to Mark Steed, principal of Stamford School, who expresses concern over the impact of the new economic landscape. He says: "If a subject does not have at least six students for A-Level, then we have to drop it." Several schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations are mentioned. By Robert Hardman, with additional reporting by Simon Trump.

Fulneck School, a long-established independent school in the constituency of chancellor Rachel Reeves, has announced plans to close this summer because of serious financial difficulties. A statement from the school said: "Despite the dedicated efforts of the school and the Fulneck trustees to sustain pupil numbers, a continued decline in enrolment, combined with rising operational costs, has made it increasingly challenging to maintain financial viability." The article references the Independent School's Council (ISC) forthcoming legal challenge, as well as the Lords' vote against removing independent schools' business rates relief last week. By Poppy Wood, The Telegraph. 

During a debate in the House of Commons on the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers) Bill, formerly the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill, Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake said: "Labour’s education tax sits alongside the utterly wrong-headed policy of charging VAT on private school fees. Regardless of people’s views on private schools, it is the view of the Opposition that we should never tax education. We are already seeing the gates of independent schools being locked indefinitely. That pushes more children into state education, increases class sizes and puts more pressure on the public purse, and on councils trying to find placements for students with education, health and care plans." Urging ministers to consider and agree to the Lords' amendments to "safeguard businesses, schools and communities across the country from more business-damaging and job-destroying tax hikes", Mr Hollinrake explained that Amendment 17 would retain rates relief for independent schools in England, "sparing them part of a cumulative burden that would otherwise send many of them beyond the brink". 

Echoing Mr Hollinrake's remarks, Liberal Democrat MP and education spokesperson Munira Wilson stated: "As I have said many times since the general election—and indeed before—the Liberal Democrats are opposed, in principle, to the taxation of education, as it is a public good. We strongly support and champion parents’ right to choose, on which both those tax measures are an assault." Referencing the cross-sector partnership activity taking place between state and independent schools, with specific examples from her own constituency of Twickenham, Ms Wilson continued: "Clause 5, which implements the removal of charitable rate relief for private schools, undermines the principle that I referred to: we should not be taxing education, and we should respect parents' right to choose. The clause will undermine the ability of independent schools to undertake the brilliant partnership work that they do in our communities and with state schools." She added: "The measure will also limit those schools' abilities to extend bursaries to children from more disadvantaged backgrounds." Concurring with Ms Wilson, former home secretary Suella Braverman said the tax policy will not only harm independent school pupils but also overwhelm state schools "running at nearly 100 per cent capacity", undermining the education of all children. 

In a written question in the House of Commons, Conservative MP Wendy Morton asked whether ministers plan to make an assessment of the potential impact of their VAT on fees policy on the long-term finances of (a) independent and (b) state education sectors. Responding, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Murray referred to the government's Tax Impact and Information Note (TIIN), which assesses the impacts of applying VAT to independent school fees on both independent and state schools. He added: "How to fund VAT costs is a commercial decision for individual schools. The government estimates that private school fees will increase by around 10 per cent on average."

Carla Denyer, a Green Party MP, submitted a written question asking if the education secretary will take legislative steps to require independent schools to (a) identify pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and (b) provide support to those pupils in line with the (i) SEND Code of Practice and (ii) Children and Families Act 2014. Catherine McKinnell responded, saying: "Independent schools are regulated against The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, which set out the standards for the education, welfare and safety for pupils attending an independent school." She continued: "Section 85 of the Equality Act 2010 prohibits schools, including independent schools, from discriminating against pupils with certain protected characteristics. This includes a requirement that schools must not discriminate in the way they provide education for pupils; the way they afford pupils access to benefits, facilities or services; or by not providing education for pupils."

In a letter to The Times, Andrew McGarva, rector of Morrison's Academy, expresses concern over the government's VAT on fees policy in light of reports that the money raised will go into general taxation "rather than being directly allocated to improving schools". He warns: "If Labour truly intended this tax to benefit schoolchildren it should reaffirm its commitment to protecting the revenue for education. Otherwise it risks confirming fears that this policy was more about targeting independent schools than supporting state-educated pupils." The letter appears near the top of the page.

Writing to The Telegraph, Captain Nigel Manger (retired) references the government's VAT on fees policy as one of the factors contributing to challenges faced by submariners and their families. He warns that the added financial burden of higher school fees, resulting from the tax, affects military personnel and their children, potentially making service life more difficult. The letter appears below halfway.

In an article for Independent School Management Plus on the current challenges facing boys, Andrew Murfin highlights the limitations of media portrayals such as Adolescence, which he argues focus on extreme cases of male violence but fail to "engage with the wider cultural forces that shape boys’ identities today". Mr Murfin points to the Centre for Social Justice’s report, The Lost Boys, which he says presents a broader crisis of male disengagement and boys’ emotional struggle across society. Noting the impact of smartphones on the attention, wellbeing and emotional development of all young people, he concludes: "How many of us are reading this article on a smartphone? We recognise the perils of screen addiction and yet continue to model the very behaviours we warn against." Andrew Murfin is interim headteacher at Danes Hill School.

In the ISC's latest blog, David Mulae, assistant head pastoral and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) lead at Cranleigh School, explains how the school is actively working to improve representation across the teaching profession.

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.

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