ISC Daily News Summary

The Economist explores Labour's plans to impose VAT on school fees, looking at both the likely impact on parents of children at smaller independent schools and the effect changing tax rules would have more broadly. Warning that "the impact is likely to be unevenly distributed", the piece concludes that "the money raised will be useful at the margins but not fix the biggest issues in schools". Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), is quoted saying it is rare for countries to tax school fees and that if Britain was still a member of the EU this would not be permitted. 

Education secretary Gillian Keegan has said transgender guidance for schools will be published "before Christmas" but that it could be spring before the regulations come into effect as they will be subject to a "long consultation". The guidance is expected to tell schools that they can stop pupils entering opposite-sex toilets and prevent them from joining opposite-sex sports teams. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph. 

Anne Longfield, the former children's commissioner, has warned that children feel they have to attempt suicide multiple times before receiving treatment from NHS mental health services. The Times Health Commission also heard yesterday that worsening health inequalities have been driving child poverty, damaging the life chances of young people. By Eleanor Hayward and Georgia Lambert, The Times. 

The majority of teachers believe Ofsted inspections are inaccurate, even those undertaken at schools rated good or outstanding, according to the findings of a survey commissioned by Beyond Ofsted. The survey revealed 92 per cent of teachers agreed that Ofsted was not a “reliable and trusted arbiter of standards”, with 62 per cent of teachers saying the outcome of their most recent inspection did not accurately reflect their school’s performance. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. 

Attendance expert Carolyn Gentle-Genitty explains how her work in the US can help pupils in the UK back into school amid the growing attendance crisis. Reflecting on the many social benefits that school attendance gives to children, Ms Gentle-Genitty says: "Pupils need to learn more than the curriculum." By Zofia Niemtus, Tes.

In an interview with Tes, head of The King's School, Canterbury Jude Lowson discusses her own school days and the teachers who inspired her, why a broader education could benefit children, and how leading a school founded in 597 provides a different approach to decision making. Of her immediate priorities, Ms Lowson explains that she is keen to "focus on the things heads are really worrying about right now: the facilities and buildings being safe and, perhaps most importantly, ensuring that the career of being a teacher is highly regarded and highly rewarded". By Dan Worth.