In the ISC's latest blog, Jonathan Hetherington, head of More House School, reflects on the proposals outlined in the Schools White Paper and questions whether the government’s goals for mainstream inclusion are achievable. 

MPs have rejected an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, and have instead supported flexible ministerial powers. A ban on sites such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat was brought in for youngsters in Australia at the end of 2025, and similar plans were backed by peers in the House of Lords in January. In the House of Commons yesterday, Olivia Bailey urged MPs to dismiss the change and support more flexible restrictions. Ms Bailey's alternative plan would instead enable the government to "restrict or ban children of certain ages from accessing social media services and chatbots". By Jennifer McKiernan, BBC News.

Popular BTECs and other applied general qualifications have been granted another funding extension as part of a "sustainable" transition to new V-levels, ministers have announced. Defunding will now begin from autumn 2027, rather than this year, in the subject areas chosen for the first V-levels, which include finance, digital, education and early years. The government is also due to launch a consultation on a new qualification for pupils with lower attainment in English and maths as a bridge to resitting their GCSEs. By Billy Camden and Josh Mellor, Schools Week.

The Times looks at how post-16 education has changed, and features an article by education secretary Bridget Phillipson on why the government is introducing V-levels, which she describes as "a landmark transformation to the skills landscape in this country". Ms Phillipson's piece follows Georgia Lambert's news item.

Almost one in 10 wealthy parents with children at an independent school have left the sector since Labour's VAT on fees policy came into effect, according to a survey of families by wealth management firm Saltus. It found nine per cent of such parents were now sending their children to a state school or educating them at home. The research, part of the firm’s latest Wealth Index report, surveyed 1,167 high-net-worth parents, defined as those who have investable assets of £250,000 and at least one child at an independent school. Almost two thirds (65 per cent) said they have had to make significant changes as a direct result of the tax changes and, of these, 23 per cent have removed their child from their school. Of those, six per cent had moved their offspring to state schools, and three per cent had opted to teach them at home. Reference is made to research from the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which found more than 100 independent schools have closed since the tax was introduced. By Tim Sigsworth, The Telegraph. Also covered by Georgia Lambert for The Times. 

In two written questions in the House of Commons, Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Health and Social Care) Dr Luke Evans asked when the education secretary last met with the independent school sector to discuss the financial sustainability of small independent schools. He then asked whether the education secretary has received representations from the independent school sector on introducing a targeted subsidy for small charitable independent schools with fewer than 500 pupils.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Olivia Bailey provided the same answer to both questions, directing Dr Evans to HM Treasury's Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on applying VAT to private school fees before adding: "The department continues to engage with private school providers, including smaller schools, and representative organisations to ensure they are aware of the requirements outlined in the TIIN." Hansard.

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