Writing in School Management Plus, Alex McGrath, founder of Castlegate Education and a former headteacher, reflects on the impact of the government's VAT on fees policy just over a year since it was introduced. Mr McGrath explores some of the ways independent schools have adjusted to the effect of the new tax, which include "innovative commercial practices". Taking a positive view, he says that while "change unsettles the market", it "also energises the sector, creating innovation from perceived chaos". He concludes: "Market forces will decide which schools prevail." A number of schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations are mentioned in the article.

Writing in The Telegraph, former Conservative prime minister David Cameron criticises Labour’s education reforms and accuses ministers of "systematically dismantling" reforms by successive governments that had made English schools world-leading. Lord Cameron also condemns Labour’s decision to scrap dozens of planned free schools in some of the country’s poorest regions, including one backed by Eton College. His comments mark the most high-profile attack on Labour’s education plans to date and come before its flagship school bill’s return to the House of Lords today. The Telegraph also covers Lord Cameron's comments in a news story by Poppy Wood.

Any dilution of legal rights for disabled children and their families would cross "red lines", campaigners have warned, as the government prepares substantial changes to special education needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in England. The Disabled Children’s Partnership, which represents more than 130 charities and professional groups, has written to MPs including education secretary Bridget Phillipson to raise concerns that the changes will "come at the expense of children’s legal protections". Backed by organisations including Mencap and the National Autistic Society, the letter says any reforms must not narrow the definition of SEND in a way that restricts eligibility, and the SEND tribunal must not be abolished. "These protections are not optional," the letter states. By Richard Adams, The Guardian. 

The workload pressures faced by headteachers and Sendcos under Ofsted’s new inspection regime have emerged as a concern following the first tranche of school visits, Andy Jordan, inspection and accountability specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), has said. Addressing delegates at the Schools North East Academies Conference, he said the inspectorate had been made aware of ASCL's concerns, and urged leaders to "put their arm around their Sendcos" in light of the increasing pressure. By John Roberts, Tes. 

A pilot SEND programme rolled out across 32 local authorities under the previous Conservative government has cut exclusions and kept more children in mainstream education, a Department for Education report has found. Introduced during the same trial, which began in 2023, standardised education, health and care plans (EHCPs) were found to have made the the process "less overwhelming" for parents. Looking ahead, Labour has already extended the government’s contract with councils across England to test new initiatives through the change programme. By Jack Dyson, Schools Week. 

In an article for Tes, Professor Sir Steve Smith, the UK government’s international education champion and former university vice-chancellor, says schools should support the government's new International Education Strategy, which was launched last month. He highlights Wellington College and Reigate Grammar School as "great examples" of schools that have expanded abroad, adding that the diverse range of partnership models has helped more institutions to follow suit. 

Spain will ban access to social media for under-16s and platforms will be required to implement age verification systems, prime minister Pedro Sanchez said today as he announced several measures to guarantee a safe digital environment. Mr Sanchez added that prosecutors would explore ways to investigate possible legal violations by Elon Musk's Grok, as well as TikTok and Instagram. Reuters.

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