ISC Daily News Summary

Writing in Independent Schools Magazine, accountant Meera Rajah looks at the implications of Labour's plans to impose VAT on independent school fees. Ms Rajah outlines some actions that school leaders could consider, including watching closely for further announcements, planning fee increases, scholarships and bursaries well in advance, and possibly deferring the start date of large capital works projects "until the VAT landscape is a little clearer". 

Department for Education (DfE) ministers have written to school and college leaders to ensure any political activity from pupils in response to the crisis in the Middle East does not create an "atmosphere of intimidation". The letter also says recent events will result in staff being put in difficult positions at school, as children ask understandable questions and share their views. Tes. 

Senior lawyers have called for parents to have a legal right to know what their children are being taught at school. In a new report, the Society of Conservative Lawyers has proposed legislation that would give parents online access to all teaching materials, except an individual teacher’s plan for a particular lesson. By Charles Hymas, The Telegraph. 

Headteachers have told The Guardian that education in England is in danger of being reduced to a “bare bones, boilerplate model”, after a DfE error in forecasting pupil numbers forced schools to plan for further cuts. The paper reports some heads are considering reducing their number of teaching assistants, who often work with children with special educational needs and disabilities. By Sally Weale.

Children’s charities are calling for ministers to raise benefits at least in line with the latest inflation figures to help families whose finances are being “pushed to the brink” amid the cost-of-living crisis. By Aine Fox, The Independent.