ISC Daily News Summary

Sam Hart, head at Giggleswick School, writes in Independent School Management Plus on the potential impact of Labour's tax plans on independent school pupils and their families. Mr Hart explains how his school intends to absorb the cost of VAT should Labour's policy be implemented, adding: "Every school has its own unique context against which decisions must be made... By committing to absorb the impact of VAT on fees, Giggleswick School is making a proactive decision to continue to deliver the widest possible access to those who wish to pursue this form of education." 

Independent schools are likely to continue offering A-levels under the government's planned reform of post-16 education, according to Ofqual. In its response to a consultation on the Advanced British Standard (ABS), a baccalaureate-style qualification proposed by the prime minister last year, England’s exams regulator said the scale of change needed to achieve the ambitions of the ABS is “unprecedented” and would require “significant investment”. Ofqual added that international A-levels could continue to be offered in independent schools even if A-levels are no longer available in state schools. 

Speaking to The Independent, chairman of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Barnaby Lenon said: “Independent schools will have differing views of the Advanced British Standard. But I would say it is likely that some will move to an international A-level option as Ofqual suggests, especially if international A-levels are regarded as being of a higher academic level than the ABS and universities in the UK welcome them.” By Eleanor Busby. 

Girls at school developed urinary tract infections because they did not want to use gender-neutral toilets, women and equalities minister Kemi Badenoch has claimed. Speaking to LBC, Ms Badenoch referenced a school that thought they were following correct guidance, but had been advised by an organisation that “wasn’t looking at the equality law”. She is urging members of the public to provide examples of state bodies failing to provide single-sex spaces amid concerns that the guidance is being misinterpreted by the NHS, local councils and others. By Genevieve Holl-Allen, The Telegraph.

A report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has recommended that children should be made to stay in school until they are 18 to  to make up for Covid absenteeism. The think tank's report, which looked at the global post-pandemic rise in pupil absence, suggests that extending compulsory attendance would lead to further “positive effects among higher-achieving students". By Gabriella Swerling and Blathnaid Corless, The Telegraph. 

Spanish universities have been attracting increasing numbers of students from the UK after Madrid changed its rules post-Brexit to allow non-EU applicants to work as well as study. Since 2020, there has been an 11 per cent rise in UK students in Spain, with 1,645 studying in the country last year, more than half – 58 per cent – of them women. By Graham Keeley, iNews.

Tes takes a closer look at the life and career of Bridget Phillipson, the shadow secretary of state for education. Reference is made to Labour Party plans to impose VAT on school fees. By George Phillips.