ISC Daily News Summary

The Financial Times reports that a number of UK independent schools have started to more prominently advertise advance payment schemes amid Labour's plans to add VAT to school fees. According to the paper, at least eight small and less well-known independent schools appear to have either introduced new plans or have begun promoting their existing schemes. Chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Julie Robinson is quoted, saying: "Fees in advance schemes are perfectly legitimate and have been used for a number of reasons over the years — for example, when a family has been left a legacy.” Ms Robinson added that schools have been advised that advance payments should not be marketed as a tax loophole. By Anna Gross.

Will Goldsmith, head of Bedales School, has a letter published in today's Times responding to research from the Social Market Foundation suggesting the GCSE curriculum should be slimmed down. On his own school's approach, Mr Goldsmith explains: "Since 2005 Bedales has been swapping outdated GCSEs for our own qualifications, which allows greater flexibility in selecting content and deploying a broader range of assessments." He adds: "In a time when the value of independent schools is being questioned, surely this is an example of the sector having the freedom to develop new approaches that can then be scaled up to the benefit of pupils in all schools?"

Pupils face being disqualified from exams if they search for leaked papers online, Ofqual has warned. The watchdog is instead telling students to report to their teachers any accounts claiming to sell this year’s exam papers on the internet. By Alex Barton, The Telegraph.

The locations of 16 new schools for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been revealed, with ministers also naming the academy trusts chosen to run seven other specialist settings in England. Reacting to the news, Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of education union ASCL, warned that “while this investment in new special schools is very welcome, we are worried that it is too little too late”. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.