Writing for BBC News, Eastenders actress Kellie Bright highlights the struggles families face in trying to obtain support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). She shares the story of her own son Freddie, who has autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, and describes the long battle she fought to secure his education, health and care plan (EHCP). Ms Bright also speaks to Jacquie Russell, a Conservative councillor and cabinet member for children, young people and learning, who says: "The current system is actually very adversarial. Our parents are increasingly tired and anxious and fed up of fighting." Calling for ministers to take action, Ms Bright concludes: "All eyes are now on the government to see if its reforms can relieve the pressure on so many families." Additional reporting by Doug Faulkner.

Ms Bright's journey to securing SEND support for her son is also covered in iNews, by Adam Sherwin.
Kellie Bright – Autism, School and Families on the Edge, a Panorama documentary, airs on BBC One at 8pm tonight.

Six out of 10 secondary schools have suffered a cyber attack or breach over the last year, according to a government survey. By comparison, four out of 10 businesses have faced a breach or attack, which is roughly the same proportion as primary schools. Toby Lewis, global head of threat analysis at cybersecurity firm Darktrace, says the UK education sector is not necessarily being targeted deliberately, but "they are just getting caught up in the dragnet of cybercrime attacks that are out there". Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Lewis adds that state schools might be more vulnerable to attacks because of pressure on funding and a lack of specialist expertise. By Dan Milmo.

A number of ministers have submitted written questions in the House of Commons. Shadow health and social care secretary Luke Evans asked what assessment ministers have made of the potential impact of the introduction of the VAT on fees policy on the ability of non-affluent families to afford independent school education. Olivia Bailey, minister for early education, replied: "HM Treasury published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on applying VAT to independent school fees. This is a comprehensive assessment of the VAT policy, including impacts on individuals and families and can be accessed here." In response to Dr Evans's separate question as to when education ministers last met representatives of the independent sector to discuss issues facing the sector, Ms Bailey gave the date 22 July 2025. 

Conservative MP Blake Stephenson asked if the education secretary will make an assessment of the reasons for changes to the number of independent school pupils between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic year. Referencing the government's latest school census data, Ms Bailey said that, as at January 2025, "pupil numbers remain firmly within historical patterns seen for over 20 years". 

Richard Holden, shadow transport secretary, asked whether the Department for Education (DfE) has issued guidance to local authorities in England on the impact of changes to VAT on independent schools on school places. Responding, Ms Bailey again referenced the Treasury's TIIN on the VAT policy. She added that the latest published data "confirms there is additional capacity in the system", and that the DfE "works with local authorities to help them fulfil their duty to secure school places". Hansard. 

Replacing uncomfortable PE kits for more practical clothing has caused participation in sport to soar at St George’s School, Edinburgh, according to the school's headteacher. Carol Chandler-Thompson, who leads Scotland's largest all girls' school, explained that staff involved pupils in redesigning the kit, introducing options such as skorts, leggings, and outdoor coats. Describing the positive impact of these changes, she said: "The feedback we have received has been incredible. The fact that 90 per cent of our girls are still playing right through to the end of the time at the school speaks for itself." By Marc Horne, The Sunday Times. 

A survey of 1,150 schools by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) has revealed a decline of 16,696 students in the year to last month, or 3.6 per cent – the largest drop since records began in 1982. The survey found declines of 4.5 per cent at girls’ schools, 3.6 per cent at co-educational schools, and 2.7 per cent at boys’ schools. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, told The Sunday Times the drop showed the government had underestimated the impact of its policy to charge VAT on school fees, which took effect in January. She said: "The data indicates the numbers are worse than the government predicted and budgeted for and there will also be more pressure on state schools as a result." Asked about the impact on girls' schools in particular, Fionnuala Kennedy, head of Wimbledon High School GDST, said some well-established boys’ schools have recently gone co-educational, meaning they now need girls to enrol. As such, families traditionally seeking single-sex education "would therefore now consider those schools, whereas in the past that option wasn’t open to them". Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, chief executive of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), said the figures were "shocking but not surprising", adding: "It is hitting the lower-cost, small schools, the most – the ones that are embedded in their local communities." By Louise Eccles and Joey D’Urso.

Speaking to Vanessa Feltz on LBC yesterday evening, Ms Robinson reiterated concerns about falling pupil numbers across independent schools, citing the ISC's figures. Noting the 81 closures seen so far, she said: "Our fear is that for a number of these children there won’t be a space in the right place at the right age range in the state system." Stressing that all parents should have the opportunity to find the best school for their children, Ms Robinson urged the government to work with the sector "for 100 per cent of families and 100 per cent of pupils", adding: "Independent schools are a wonderful education resource, and we should be working together as part of the overall education ecosystem." Listen from 02:36:22.

Wealthy British parents are turning to boarding schools in continental Europe as rising independent school fees drive families to look for cheaper options abroad, The Guardian reports. German and Swiss institutions have reported increases in the number of queries from British parents who face higher fees at home amid the VAT on fees policy. Jamie Perfect, director of the International School of Bremen in northern Germany, said the school had been "inundated" with requests. Reference is made to Brighton College, which is preparing to open schools in Spain and Italy as it seeks to cater to families leaving the country. By Lauren Almeida. 

Figures obtained by BBC Wales have revealed the Ministry of Defence (MoD) spends roughly £1 million a year sending children of service personnel to independent schools in North Wales because "state schools teach some or all lessons in the Welsh language". As part of a longstanding scheme, it paid £1,019,000 in day school allowance in North Wales for 83 children of service personnel in 2024-2025, and £942,000 for 79 children in 2023-2024. An MoD spokesperson told BBC News, "The purpose of Day School Allowance in North Wales (DSA-NW) is to assist service families posted to the region, where Welsh is the primary medium of local state education. As mobility is a part of service life, service children can face frequent moves and DSA-NW aims to minimise disruption to their education. The MoD supports the sacrifices service personnel, and their families make, and DSA-NW assists with the costs of independent day schooling given in English." By Alun Jones.

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