- Education secretary avoids question on impact of VAT on fees policy
- House of Commons debate: Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill
- 'No ceiling' to what school leaders can pay their teachers under reforms, education secretary says
- 'The international school that my children go to is great'
Education secretary avoids question on impact of VAT on fees policy
Education policyDuring an Education Select Committee appearance yesterday, Bridget Phillipson failed to provide a comprehensive explanation of the full impact of the government’s VAT on fees policy, avoiding the question when asked about its potential implications for special education schools, The Independent reports. When asked what assessment ministers have made of the impact on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) capacity if children are withdrawn from their independent schools and moved into the state system, the education secretary said: “As part of the process, through the budget around the changes that we're setting out, we've looked at all of the potential impacts, including on the schools themselves and the potential for movement of children." She added: "But I'm afraid, you know, we do have to be clear about where that is through an identified need where it has been defined that a child requires a place within a specialist provision because their needs cannot be met elsewhere, there will be no additional costs." By Millie Cooke.
Schools Week highlights eight key takeaways from yesterday's Education Select Committee hearing, which include Ofsted report cards and the national funding formula. It was was the first time Bridget Phillipson appeared before the committee, alongside Department for Education permanent secretary Susan Acland-Hood. On the issue of Latin in state schools, Ms Phillipson said: "This should not be the preserve of just those in private schools." When asked about the provision of education for children with SEND, Ms Acland-Hood said: “One of the things people sometimes worry about, that if you provide more inclusive education for children with special educational needs, might you drag down the experience of other children? Actually, the international evidence suggests the opposite – actually it’s better for all children, if you can provide better more inclusive education.”
House of Commons debate: Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill
PoliticalDuring a debate in the House of Commons on the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill, deputy speaker Nusrat Ghani clarified an amendment which would mean that "a school that is wholly or mainly concerned with providing education to persons with special educational needs would not be a private school for the purposes of the Act, and as a result would retain charitable relief from non-domestic rates".
A question on independent schools was later raised by former education secretary Damian Hinds, who asked if the "proportion of children going to private schools has stayed constant". Labour MP Adam Thompson responded, saying: "My understanding from speaking to the experts is that the proportion has remained broadly consistent, but my apologies if that is incorrect." This was followed by a comment from Conservative MP Sarah Bool, who warned that "schools will close" as a result of the tax, with a reference to schools in her own constituency of South Northamptonshire. Ms Bool said: "These tax hikes will not hurt the wealthiest. It is the people who have scrimped and saved to send their children to a school of their choice who will be hit the worst. Labour seems to believe people should not have a choice over where they send their child to school."
Reference is made to the Independent Schools Council (ISC) on a number of occasions during the debate. The bill was passed on its Third Reading. The extensive debate, which mentions independent schools and the VAT on fees policy throughout, can be read in full at Hansard.
'No ceiling' to what school leaders can pay their teachers under reforms, education secretary says
Teacher payAddressing the Education Select Committee, Bridget Phillipson said there will be “no ceiling” to what school leaders can pay their teachers under the government’s proposed education reforms. Amid fears that academies could lose existing freedoms allowing them to offer higher pay to staff, Ms Phillipson suggested that all schools in England will have “full flexibility” on teachers’ pay as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. By Eleanor Busby, The Independent.
'The international school that my children go to is great'
International educationAmid the government's VAT on fees policy, Nora Lukacs and her family relocated to Spain to seek independent education for their daughters. Describing their previous experience of state schooling in London, Ms Lukacs explains: "There were more than 30 children to one class. When my eldest daughter joined Year Two, there was a teaching assistant in each class. By the time her sister started Year Two, they had one for three classes. It wasn’t ideal for children who needed extra support, which my daughter does." On why the family chose Malaga, Ms Lukacs says: "We considered [UK] private school briefly, but we couldn’t afford an extra £2,000 or more per month – so we decided to look further afield." The family tell iNews that the children are enjoying smaller class sizes and outdoor learning, and despite the lower wages, the couple's living costs have reduced significantly. By Kuba Shand-Baptiste.