ISC Daily News Summary

In a written question in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine asked what assessment ministers have made of the potential impact on job losses in the independent sector over the next five years following the removal of eligibility for business rates charitable relief for independent schools. Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Dan Tomlinson responded by referring her to the impact note on the removal of eligibility for business rates charitable relief for independent schools, which can be found online here. Hansard. 

Under-16s should be banned from accessing social media unless technology companies remove dangerous features from their platforms, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) have said. Urging ministers to ban youngsters from using platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram unless tech giants radically overhaul the way they operate, Graeme Biggar, director general of the NCA, told The Telegraph: "Online platforms have design features that criminals exploit to target children. Given the scale of abuse and harm, these features should not be available on apps used by children." By Martin Evans.

Ministers are to abolish the £320 million PE and sport premium for primary schools in favour of a new partnerships scheme with approximately 40 per cent less annual funding. The new "PE and school sport partnerships network" will run from spring 2027, the Department for Education (DfE) has said, bringing targeted support to primary and secondary schools based on their needs. This could include providing new coaches, extra swimming lessons and more extra-curricular activities to meet local demand. By Esmé Kenney, Schools Week.

The Arthur Terry Learning Partnership, a troubled academy trust, is set to be carved up in one of the government's largest-ever MAT closures. The trust revealed yesterday that education secretary Bridget Phillipson has decided all its academies "should transition to a small number of high-performing, regionally based" chains. Arthur Terry recently confirmed that the DfE has also "agreed to provide a non-recoverable fund to cover the costs associated with restructuring". By Jack Dyson, Schools Week.

Telegraph Money looks at how some parents are turning to the value tied up in their homes to help cover the cost of rising school fees amid increasing financial pressures. The article cites figures from the ISC showing that more than 100 independent schools have closed and around 25,000 pupils have been affected since the introduction of Labour's VAT on fees policy, and examines options such as remortgaging and equity release alongside the risks of taking on additional debt. By Charlotte Duck.