Sarah Cunnane, the Independent Schools Council's (ISC) head of media and communications, was interviewed by Vicky Young on BBC Politics Live yesterday during a detailed discussion on the impact of the government's VAT on fees policy. "Around 30,000 children have left the sector since VAT was imposed on parents' fees," explained Ms Cunnane, adding: "There have been cost of living crises before, there have been recessions before... but we have never seen a dop that is as severe as this." Describing the impact of the VAT on fees policy in Scotland in particular, she said: "We are now seeing that this policy is costing the government more money than it is bringing in." During the interview, she outlined the significant benefits of the independent sector, providing diversity and parental choice in addition to relieving pressure on the state sector. Labour MP Lola McEvoy, who was asked for her views on the policy, likened fees pre-VAT to a "discount", to which Ms Cunnane said: "It is not a discount nor a subsidy. A tax being imposed on fees is very, very different." She explained: "VAT is not charged on school fees across the world... education is seen as a public good." Echoing Ms Cunnane's concerns, former Brexit MEP Lucy Harris said adding pressure to the state sector, and imposing a tax on fees, is a "bad thing", explaining that in doing so the resources to educate all children are subsequently reduced. In her concluding remarks, Ms Cunnane reminded the panel that children must remain at the heart of the debate on VAT on fees, stressing that the Department for Education has a responsibility to all children in the UK, not only those educated in the state sector.

The Telegraph looks at how the VAT on fees policy has affected middle-class families. According to its analysis of official data, at least 47 independent schools have closed in the last 18 months, and more than 40,000 independent sector pupils have moved to the state sector. The paper notes that Labour claimed the policy would only push 14,000 pupils into the state sector in the 2025-26 academic year, but that its analysis shows the real figure, 43,126, is more than three times higher, not including those in independent special needs schools. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, said the figures "underline the pressures that recent policy changes, alongside wider economic challenges, are placing on families’ ability to choose the education they believe is right for their children". She added: "We have always been concerned that these policies would most seriously affect families and schools who were already under pressure financially. Sadly, we are seeing an emerging trend supporting those concerns." David Morton, head of The King’s School in Gloucester, described VAT on fees as "the last nail in the coffin" for the sector. An accompanying graph illustrates independent school closures since 2016. By Noah Eastwood and Ben Butcher. 

Stoke College in Suffolk is to close at the end of this term, citing financial pressures affecting both the school and the wider independent sector. Announcing the closure yesterday with "great sadness", the school’s board of directors and shareholders said the decision had been taken "following a sustained period of financial challenge". The Telegraph notes that more than 100 independent schools have closed since Labour's VAT on fees policy was introduced, according to figures from the ISC. It adds that a dedicated transition team has been developed by Stoke College to help its pupils find places at other schools. By Albert Tait. 

Ruckleigh School in Solihull has also announced it is to close this summer. According to The Solihull Observer, a statement from the school cited a combination of challenges, including rising operating costs, cost-of-living pressures affecting families, changing demographic trends, and the introduction of the government's VAT on fees policy. "The decision to close has not been taken lightly," it added. School Management Plus.

University students who attended independent schools are more fearful of being "cancelled" for their views than those from state schools, according to a study from the Higher Education Policy Institute think tank and charity Advance HE. Their survey of 10,065 full-time undergraduates in the UK found that one in 10 was uncomfortable expressing their views on campus. Of those, 38 per cent of independently educated students said it was because they feared being cancelled, compared to 24 per cent of those who attended state schools. By Albert Tait, The Telegraph. Also reported by Georgia Lambert for The Times. 

Writing in The Telegraph, Sir Anthony Seldon, founding director of Wellington College Education and former head of Epsom College, Brighton College and Wellington College, says artificial intelligence (AI) "is making our young less curious, knowledgeable and intelligent, and more insecure and work-averse". Calling on ministers to act, he explains: "The loss is not milking the real benefits AI has: it can help pupils with learning needs, without access to specialist teachers and those for whom English is not the first language. It can help with marking and feedback. Properly used it can provide remarkable challenge to bright and curious young minds. Because we have not got ahead of AI, we are losing the benefits amidst the concerns of risk and danger." Sir Anthony's article immediately follows the news item, which is written by Albert Tait. 

Tes exclusively reports that AQA, England’s largest exam board, has apologised after candidates sitting a foundation-tier GCSE maths paper yesterday found that the exam contained information intended for another paper. The exam included an insert with formulae required to complete AQA’s equivalent higher-tier exam – which was taking place at the same time – in addition to those needed for the foundation exam. Schools have told the paper that entrants only learned of the issue once they had started the exam. After initial contact with schools to offer an apology, AQA said it would be in touch again before results day in August to "explain what we’ve done to make sure no learners are disadvantaged". By Kyle Tormey. 

Smacking children as a form of punishment could lead to lower school grades or riskier teenage behaviour, researchers from the University College London have found. The team studied the impact physical punishment had on 19,000 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002 at the ages of three, five and seven, observing that smacking "does no good whatsoever". Although their analysis could not prove a direct link between smacking and the results, as other factors might have influenced a child's life over the research period, the researchers are calling for England and Northern Ireland to outlaw it, in line with Scotland and Wales. By Beth Rose and Vanessa Clarke, BBC News.

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