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School fees have risen more than government predicted amid 'triple whammy' of financial challenges
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Independent sector
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Independent school fees were 22.6 per cent higher on average in January compared to a year ago, the Independent Schools Council (ISC) has revealed. The average termly fee for a day school in January was £7,382, which includes 20 per cent VAT, according to the ISC. In January 2024 the average was £6,021. The 22.6 per cent increase in average fees compares with an 8.4 per cent rise in 2024 and a 6.4 per cent rise in 2023. Earlier this year, the government predicted fees would increase by about 10 per cent as a result of the tax changes, saying some schools would be able to absorb part of the cost. Speaking to BBC News, chief executive of the ISC Julie Robinson said the sector had been hit by a "triple whammy" of National Insurance changes, an end to charitable business rates relief and the imposition of 20 per cent VAT on fees. She added: "It seems clear to us that the government has underestimated the effect. We know parents have already left the sector because of the threat of VAT coming in so we do expect the reality of this to lead to further decreases but the full effects will only become apparent over the next few years." The BBC also spoke to Kath, a mother who removed her 12-year-old son from his independent school in October after learning fees would rise by 26 per cent to nearly £8,000 a term. Kath, whose son has special educational needs and disabilities, explained that she had chosen the independent sector for its small class sizes and tailored support, but had been left with no option when fees became "unaffordable". Kath is now applying for an education, health and care plan (EHCP), and described her son's mid-year move to the state sector as "traumatic", with just 15 days to secure a place. David Morton, head of The King's School, warned that the tax policy is "misjudged", saying: "The government is trying to tax the more affluent areas of society in order to support the least affluent, but the wealthiest people have been affected the least. It's low to middle income families and those children on bursaries where the impact of VAT is being felt most." By Vanessa Clarke, Kate McGough and Phil Leake. The ISC's statistics were also mentioned on BBC Radio 4's Today programme (timestamp 2:07:41). Presented by Emma Barnett and Justin Webb.
Ms Robinson is also quoted on the impact of Labour's VAT policy in The Telegraph, saying: “The rise in National Insurance employer contribution rates is one of a triple whammy of financial blows hitting independent schools at the same time, alongside the requirement to add VAT to their fees and the removal of charitable business rates relief. Schools will, of course, be looking at all their costs in a bid to keep fee rises as low as possible for parents. But given the small, local nature of many of our schools, any savings they can make have been swallowed up by this unprecedented set of financial challenges.” Several schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations are mentioned in the article. By Pieter Snepvangers.
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10,000 teachers to be trained to teach PE to pupils with SEND
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SEND
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Ten thousand teachers are to receive training to run PE lessons for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as part of a three-year programme. The Department for Education Inclusion 2028 programme will commence in the next academic year, aiming to reach 10,000 teachers and more than 240,000 pupils with SEND. Commenting on the initiative, schools minister Catherine McKinnell said: "By building a generation of teachers with the skills and confidence to deliver high-quality PE and school sport for all pupils, we can ensure that every child gets their chance to shine." By John Roberts, Tes.
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London dominates Sutton Trust's 'opportunity index'
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Social mobility
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The top 20 constituencies with the best social mobility in England are all in London, research from the Sutton Trust has shown. In a report published today, the education charity has created an "opportunity index" by analysing six measures of mobility. These include the share of children on free school meals who achieve passes in GCSE maths and English; who complete a degree by age 22; and who reach the top 20 per cent of earners by age 28. According to the findings, all of the top-scoring 20 constituencies on the index, and 42 of the top 50, are in London. Commenting on the report, Nick Harrison, the Sutton Trust's chief executive, said: "This research paints a startling picture of inequality of opportunity across England." By Heather Stewart, The Guardian.
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Individuals 'will find a way' to access harmful content, say teenagers
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Online safety
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People will "no matter what, find a way" to access inappropriate and harmful content online even after a new crackdown comes into force, a group of young students at an academy near Bristol has warned. In an interview with BBC News, the teenagers added that such content was "easy" to receive and "hard" to get rid of. From 25 July, websites will have to change algorithms and introduce more stringent age checks or face fines as part of the Online Safety Act. Resources around the issue of online safety, aimed at children of primary age, are available on BBC Bitesize. This evening's Points West programme on BBC One will be taking an in-depth look at issues around staying safe online, and it will be available afterwards on BBC iPlayer. By Amanda Parr and Leigh Boobyer.
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School dinners help fussy eaters try new foods, research finds
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Health
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Opting for school meals could encourage fussy eaters to have a healthier diet, according to a study published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Researchers found that when children who were picky eaters got to choose their own food at school lunchtimes they ate a wider variety of food compared with those who had a packed lunch. Dr Caroline Taylor, the study's lead researcher and associate professor in nutrition at the University of Bristol, said the research suggests school dinners could be a "good option to increase variety in the diets of picky teens". By Seren Hughes, The Times.
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'There is still a danger that we throw senior leaders in at the deep end'
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International education
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Writing in Independent School Management Plus, Mark Steed reflects on his recent experience as a "co-facilitator" of the COBIS Programme for Aspiring Headteachers (CPAH), which assists school leaders in making the transition from being on the senior leadership team to running a school. Explaining why he is so supportive of structured training programmes to support heads, the CEO and principal of Stamford School says: "The modern international school is a complex business, often with hundreds of employees, a real estate of thousands of square of metres, and a turnover that runs to tens of millions of pounds." Details of the CPAH can be found here.
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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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