Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), tabled a debate in the House of Lords on the impact of VAT and other tax changes on independent schools since January 2025. The extensive debate, which took place yesterday, focused on the financial pressures facing independent schools, including the new tax, changes to business rates relief and higher employer National Insurance contributions. Introducing the motion, Lord Lexden said: "Article after article and survey after survey have provided evidence of the strain that the government's education tax is placing on hard-working families. The latest survey by Parentkind found that 40 per cent of parents with children in independent schools have been forced to cut back on household spending to meet the cost of their children's education. These are the people who work extra hours, forgo holidays and put off replacing the family car because they believe an independent school is right for their child. The education tax increases the sacrifices that they have to make." On the vital role played by independent schools in outreach and collaborative work, he explained: "In the past year, more than 1,000 Independent Schools Council (ISC) schools have worked with state school colleagues in nearly 10,000 partnership projects across sport, music, the arts and academic collaboration. These range from sharing facilities and running joint lessons and events to seconding staff and helping state school sixth-formers with university applications. All represent invaluable opportunities for children at no cost to the state. Sadly, the government have shown remarkably little interest in supporting and strengthening this work, even as they place greater expectations on schools to broaden pupils' opportunities."

During the debate, speakers also considered the effects on pupil numbers, school closures, families and the wider education system. Focusing on specialist music and arts schools, Conservative peer Lord Blackwell warned: "The VAT levy now poses a real danger to the financial viability of these specialist schools, which play such an important role in maintaining the UK's cultural leadership." Welcoming the debate, Lord Black of Brentwood, honorary president of the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA) and a Conservative peer, criticised the government's "spiteful" policy, saying the government had promised to use the money raised to fund new teaching places. "It was not honest: the number of teachers has fallen", he said. In the case of boarding schools, he added that VAT on fees has "disrupted children's education, put teachers and support staff out of work and had a profound impact on local communities". Echoing the concerns, Conservative peer Baroness Cash highlighted the impact of the tax changes on children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). She said ministers had "accepted in advance" that pupils with SEND who were forced to move schools would face "disruptive impacts, to say the least". 

Lord Lexden concluded the debate, highlighting concerns over bursaries, local economies, state schools, music and specialist provision, SEND, boarding schools, school closures and the economic case for the policy. He said there was "a widespread belief that at the heart of this is not economics but a vindictiveness towards independent schools".

Reference was made to research by the ISC, of which Lord Lexden is a former general secretary, and a number of schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations were mentioned during the debate. Hansard.

In an interview with Tes, Tom Bennett, England's independent behaviour adviser, acknowledges rising exclusion and suspension figures, but maintains that the approach is working and that the latest Behaviour Hubs programme is already showing signs of success. "The systems are now in place to create the best behaviour that [teachers have] ever had", he says. The programme has been criticised, however, for not including special schools who may bring the expertise to mean both the universal offer and accommodations are as inclusive as they can be. Mr Bennett says that including special schools would "definitely" be an aim for phase two of the project, but adds that ministers have yet to make decisions on that front. By Kyle Tormey.

Imperial College London has been crowned University of the Year 2027 in The Times and Sunday Times UK university league table. By Zoe Thomas. An accompanying table enables readers to select a university name and read each institution's full profile. The research and reasoning behind this year’s university rankings and league table are explained in an article by the papers' Good University Guide team.

This summer, the Department for Education published new statutory guidance on keeping children with allergies safe. In an article for Tes article, lawyers Alice Reeve and Natalie Wargent explain what schools need to do to ensure their policies and practices are up to date. "As part of an audit of current practice, Catering processes, classroom materials, cleaning routines, storage of adrenaline devices and staff confidence in responding to emergencies should all be reviewed", they advise.

This week, we're shining a light on the Beryl Gilroy Forum, a free event designed to support greater diversity within the teaching profession. Hosted by North London Collegiate School (NLCS) on Saturday 3 October, the forum is named after Dr Beryl Gilroy, London's first black headteacher, whose pioneering career remains a touchstone for representation in education. While it is an event for all those considering teaching, from students and graduates to career-changers, the forum particularly welcomes individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds who are interested in a career in education.

Speakers will include 2018 Global Teacher Prize winner Andria Zafirakou MBE as well as Dr Jasper Green of UCL Institute of Education. A panel discussion and hands-on sessions will cover everything from routes into teaching to acing an interview.

Welcoming the initiative, Darla Gilroy, Dr Gilroy's daughter, said: "It is a wonderful honour to see the Beryl Gilroy Forum carrying forward the legacy of a pioneering black educator. Beryl understood that education has the power to transform lives, but also that those who teach must reflect the diversity, experiences and aspirations of the communities they serve. By encouraging people from underrepresented backgrounds to see teaching as a career in which they can belong, contribute and lead, NLCS is putting its principles into practice and investing in a more representative future for education."

Click here for more information and to book a place.

If you have a good news story you would like to share with us, please email [email protected] to be considered for inclusion.

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) monitors the national and educational press in order to keep independent schools up-to-date with relevant education news. The DNS is a service primarily for schools in membership of ISC associations, although other interested parties can choose to sign-up. We endeavour to include relevant news and commentary and, wherever possible, notable public letters. Where capacity allows, we may include links to ISC blogs, press statements and information about school or association events. News stories are selected based on their relevance to the independent sector as a whole. Editorial control of the DNS remains solely with the ISC.

Sign-up to the email service is available on our website.

Members can contact the ISC if they know in advance of news, letters or opinions that are likely to feature in the media, or are aware of existing coverage which they would like to see featured in the DNS.

Headlines and first-line summaries are written by the ISC with the link directing to the source material. You should read and comply with the terms and conditions of the websites to which we link.