ISC Daily News Summary

The Telegraph reports that 95 per cent of independent school leaders expect to increase fees as a result of Labour's tax plans, according to a poll conducted for the paper by Censuswide. Of those surveyed who said they would increase fees, 76 per cent said they would have to rise by more than 10 per cent and almost three quarters feared being forced to close in the next five years should Labour's policy come into effect. Faith, family-run and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools across the country were among those who shared viability concerns with The Telegraph. Commenting on the findings, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Julie Robinson said: “We know a lot of heads are worried about the effect a tax on education would have on schools, families and communities. In particular, we would really welcome the chance to talk to Labour about our concerns around the impact their policy would have on SEND support, faith education, military families and care-experienced children.” David Woodgate, chief executive of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association (ISBA), warned that "schools can’t budget based on headlines", and called on Labour to provide details about the plan.

Yesterday's Telegraph View takes a closer look at the findings of the poll. The comment piece states: "This [Labour's plan] is a vindictive, class-warfare policy whose only outcome will be to shut down good schools, put some of our best institutions far beyond the reach of all but the wealthy, wreck the partnerships that have built up between the independent and state sector and ultimately be to the detriment of the country."

Writing in The Telegraph, Suella Braverman criticises Labour's attempt to levy VAT on independent school fees, arguing that it will impact working families and vulnerable children with SEND. Ms Braverman says the policy will also render many of the small independent faith schools "unviable", forcing up to 370,000 pupils back into the state sector. Reflecting on her own experience of an independent education in the UK, the former home secretary calls for more cross-sector partnership between independent and state schools. She concludes that, rather than taxing fees, "the solution lies in an educational melting pot, where children from all different backgrounds can mix and learn from each other". 

The Telegraph also features an interview with Aatif Hassan, founder and chairman of Dukes Education, who says Labour's VAT policy is "lazy politics" that will drive inequality within education. Mr Hassan says he is "frustrated, disappointed with the whole narrative around VAT and school fees", and worries about the impact on children with special educational needs who do not have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), who would not be exempt from the VAT levy. The article is accompanied by a case study about Emmanuel School, a small Christian school in Leicester. The school's headteacher, Andy Harris, tells The Telegraph he fears his school will have to close if Labour imposes VAT on fees. Mr Harris says: “Small schools like ours that charge low fees will lose families and ultimately we may have to close. That would result in more pupils in the state system and job losses.” By Louisa Clarence-Smith.

Several schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations are mentioned across the coverage.