A report by Oxford Economics, commissioned by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and due to be published this week, has revealed that independent schools contribute an annual £16.5 billion to the economy and provide as many jobs as Asda, Sainsbury’s and Co-op combined. The report also estimates that the sector contributes £5.1 billion in tax revenue per year. Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, is quoted, warning that Labour's plan to add tax to school fees could damage schools' bursary programmes, although that is a ‘worst-case scenario’ they will seek to avoid. By Eleanor Harding and Connor Stringer, Daily Mail.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Lenon warns of the impact of Labour's independent school tax plans on financial support for poorer families, saying: “In the past 20 years independent schools have not only dramatically pushed up the amount of money spent on means-tested bursaries, they have increasingly focused it on the poorest pupils. All this progress is now threatened.” Heather Hanbury, president of the Girls' Schools Association and headmistress at Lady Eleanor Holles School, is also quoted, explaining that her school could be forced to reduce fee support if Labour’s policy was imposed. By Louisa Clarence-Smith.

Mrs Hanbury was interviewed by Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 alongside Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, where she explained the impact the policy would have on independent school pupils and parents. To listen to the interview, please skip to 05:00.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, also discussed the issue in an interview with Mariella Frostrup on Times Radio yesterday. To listen to the interview, please skip to 19:52.

Writing in The Telegraph, Philip Johnston criticises the tax policy, saying independent schools "are good schools and should not be penalised for success".

The Guardian reports Labour has defended its pledge to add VAT to independent school fees, referencing a drop in partnerships with state schools. The article quotes a spokesperson from the ISC, who explains how partnerships, which were at a record high pre-COVID, were impacted by the pandemic, adding: "Now COVID is no longer a factor, partnership work is recovering and is growing again year on year.” By Jessica Elgot.

In a comment piece in The Times, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson says that a Labour government would have to make difficult choices over taxing school fees but argues that, in her opinion, "removing private schools’ tax breaks is an easy one". Ms Phillipson refers to figures from the ISC.

Writing in the New Statesman, Sam Freedman, a former senior adviser on schools at the DfE, questions the Daily Mail's recent coverage of Labour's tax plans, and argues that "removing charitable status from private schools won’t lose Labour money – or voters".

The Mirror reports Michael Gove, the levelling up secretary, made comments in support of removing tax exemptions for independent schools in 2017. The article quotes the prime minister's official spokesperson, who says: "Independent schools have an important role to play in providing further opportunities for children across the country through targeted bursaries and by working with local state schools to share expertise, best practice and facilities. It's because of the important educational service they provide that they are exempt from VAT." By Ashley Cowburn.

Controversial measures which would have made big technology companies remove legal but harmful content have been axed from the Online Safety Bill, leading the culture secretary, Michelle Donelan, to deny 'weakening laws' protecting adult social media users. The Government has argued that the changes do not undermine the protections for children. By Chris Vallance and Shiona McCallum, BBC News.

The Guardian reports a ruling reclassifying further education (FE) colleges in England as part of central government could see them losing 'critical' financial independence. Sector leaders have said such a move would have major implications for the way FE colleges are run, taking away their autonomy on borrowing and investment decisions whilst giving them few of the benefits enjoyed by state schools such as funding or tax guarantees. By Richard Adams.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), increasing maintenance loans in England in line with forecasts, rather than actual inflation, could cause "significant hardship" for many university students this winter. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

One in four 17 to 19-year-olds have a probable mental health disorder, according to the results of NHS Digital's third survey on children and young people's mental health. Schools Week takes a closer look at the data and offers a summary of the key findings. By Samantha Booth.

In a feature on the Government's Teaching for Mastery (TfM) programme, Kate Parker explores the different definitions of 'maths mastery', how staff have been supported with it and the success of the initiative so far. Tes.

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