Independent schools are set to be charged up to three times more for Ofsted inspections under new plans to be unveiled by Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary. Around half of the 2,500 independent schools in England rely on the state watchdog for inspections, and state subsidies mean two thirds of inspection costs are effectively discounted. However, Ms Phillipson will launch a consultation this week to end the subsidy, meaning independent schools will be required to cover the full cost. By Nick Gutteridge, The Telegraph. Also covered by Sophie Wingate for The Independent, Ciaran Foreman for the Daily Mail and Freddie Whittaker for Schools Week. Reflecting on the ongoing impact of the VAT on fees policy, the Telegraph View describes this new proposal as "the last thing the sector needs". The article concludes: "This would be a tragedy for the students who attend these schools, and for Britain as a whole."

Responding to Ms Phillipson's plans to cut subsidies for independent school Ofsted inspections, two readers have letters published in The Telegraph. Edward Aitchison from Northumberland argues that "people who pay for their children’s or grandchildren’s private education, while also paying many thousands of pounds in tax to fund state education, deserve a rebate, given that they are not using places in the state system." Warning that the plans "will not raise a significant amount of money", Jane Magee, who writes from West Lothian, adds: "Parents who choose private education do so with their children’s best interests at heart, and continue to pay their taxes." The letters appear above halfway.

A survey by financial adviser Saltus has found that 71 per cent of respondents have made or were planning to make specific lifestyle or financial changes to cover the cost of higher school fees amid the government's tax policy. The financial adviser surveyed 1,300 of its clients, those with assets of more than £250,000. Sharing her concerns, a mother with two children at independent schools tells The Times the increasing financial pressure "consumes every decision I make". Commenting on the findings, Alex Pugh from Saltus said there had been a significant increase in the number of individuals seeking to review their finances since VAT was added to fees. "With the cost of living increases and VAT on top, people are using that as a trigger point to reflect on their financial health," she said. By Jack Simpson.

Lisa Kerr, principal of George Watson's College in Edinburgh, has warned that the VAT on fees policy is a major long-term concern for the sector. Speaking to The Times, she said: "We have seen a drop in applications and pupils leaving us for the state sector. This is not an issue that will be a one-year problem, and these numbers are likely just the start for the sector." A spokeswoman for the Scottish Council for Independent Schools (SCIS) said the organisation had warned ministers over the pressures the VAT measure would put on the state system, adding: "At a time when political debate is centred on economic growth, VAT on fees is doing significant damage to the economy and to Scottish education." By Craig McDonald. 

A number of articles refer to figures from the ISC.

Playing a musical instrument at school can help pupils develop skills needed for careers in fields such as finance, medicine and engineering, according to research by the Association of British Orchestras. The survey, which polled 900 adults aged 18 and over who play instruments in their free time, found studying music provides young people with transferable abilities. It also suggests the skills gained from a music education are widely applied beyond the arts, including in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Some 14 per cent of the survey respondents now work in healthcare, 20.5 per cent in education, and 14 per cent in science, maths and IT. By Jabed Ahmed, Tes.

Writing in Tes, David Tuck, head of history and politics at Harrow Hong Kong, warns that artificial intelligence (AI) poses a threat to cognitive development and explains the steps his school has taken to prevent students from using it for their work. "Restraint in adopting [AI] in our classrooms is not resistance but a duty of care," he says.

A third of state sixth forms in England do not have a single pupil studying French, Spanish or German, according to figures from last year's A-level exams. Since the requirement to study a language at GCSE level was abolished in 2004, there has been a significant fall in the number of teenagers taking the qualification, from around 500,000 to 300,000. French has seen the greatest drop, from 318,000 entries in 2004 to 135,000 last year. The West Midlands has the highest proportion of schools where no pupils studied a major modern foreign language at A level (47 per cent), followed by Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East. London and the East of England have the highest proportion of schools where at least one pupil studied French, Spanish or German in sixth form, while only a sixth (17 per cent) of independent schools had no pupils studying French, Spanish or German A-level. By Jessica Sharkey and Louise Eccles, The Sunday Times. 

Youngsters should face a legal two-hour limit on watching TikTok-style videos and be shown health warnings when they open social media apps, Victoria Collins, the Liberal Democrats' science spokeswoman, will say today. Addressing the party's annual conference, Ms Collins will explain that the measures would mean children "go into the experience with their eyes open to the risks". Labour ministers are reportedly considering a daily two-hour social media limit for children, with an announcement expected in the coming weeks. The Liberal Democrats say the government should go further with health warnings, citing research linking extended exposure to online content to a higher risk of anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. By Max Kendix and Sian Bradley, The Times. 

In a letter to The Times, Tom Lawson, head at Eastbourne College, reflects on the findings of the Sutton Trust's research highlighting disparities in social mobility among top professions. Warning that "recent tax impositions on independent schools will set back social mobility rather than enhancing it", Mr Lawson proposes a solution: "Re-establishing Assisted Places would allow talented young people from diverse backgrounds to benefit from the same rigorous education and opportunities for personal development while also relieving pressure on the maintained sector."

John Dunston, former head of Leighton Park and Sibford Quaker Schools, writes to say the Sutton Trust’s report on social mobility overlooks factors such as high housing costs and oversubscribed grammar schools, and rarely acknowledges the bursary support provided by independent schools. "If the Sutton Trust were to cast its net more widely, instead of consistently criticising the very existence of independent schools, it would paint a far more accurate picture of the socioeconomic backgrounds of its chosen workforces," he adds. The letters appear at the top of the page.

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