The Telegraph reports some independent schools could be forced to reduce scholarships and bursaries in response to Labour's tax plans. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), has said that while schools will be “loath” to restrict support for disadvantaged pupils, “everything is on the table” – including withdrawing from the TPS and making cuts to staffing. Anthony Oulton, principal of Hulme Grammar School, described the plans as "manifestly unfair". Headmaster of Ewell Castle School Silas Edmonds is also quoted, saying: "We have a lot of aspirational working class and lower middle class families who are making huge sacrifices to get their kids here. But the irony is that these are the kids who won’t be able to afford to come." Reference is made to figures from the ISC, including a survey that found 20 per cent of parents “would definitely” withdraw their children if VAT were added to school fees. By Mattie Brignal.

Writing in The Telegraph, columnist and assistant editor Michael Deacon argues that Labour's tax plans will not prevent inequality but rather they risk deepening it. Reflecting on the party's proposals, Mr Deacon states: "To ensure every child has an equal start in life, therefore, it’s not enough to drive private schools out of business." The column is accompanied by a graph showing how much fees could increase by should the plans come into effect.

Columnist James Marriott writes in The Times outlining his opinion of diversity within the education sector amid Labour's tax proposals. Mr Marriott warns that "a battle over private education looms".

Richard Cairns, headmaster of Brighton College, has a letter published in The Times in which he reflects on the number of pupils at his school - "all educated at no cost to the state" - that have received offers to study medicine, engineering, science and computing. He goes on to ask: "Why would any political party set out to impose additional taxation on such an education, the inevitable consequence of which will be fewer highly educated young people to grow our economy and support our society in the future?"

In a separate letter published in the paper, head of percussion and contemporary music at St Catherine’s School, Bramley Ian Young responds to a parliamentary report on sexism in the music industry, highlighting the popularity of drumming among female pupils at his school. Mr Young writes: "We have no concerns here about 'the gendering of instruments, roles and genres' mentioned in the Commons report." Both letters appear approximately halfway.

Members of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee have called on the government to fully review the education, health and care plan (EHCP) system and consider reforms to make SEND provision sustainable. In its latest report on “financial distress in local authorities”, MPs said council funding is “far from sufficient to meet demand” and “not sustainable in their current form”. By Samantha Booth, Schools Week. 

More than half of undergraduates use artificial intelligence (AI) programmes to assist with their essays, a survey conducted by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) suggests. The researchers also found that one in three students using AI did not know how often it “hallucinates”, which includes inventing statistics, academic citations or book titles to fill in what it perceives to be gaps. By Richard Adams, The Guardian.

Tes exclusively reveals that the NEU has said teacher “engagement and anger” will need to be “ramped up” for its campaign on teacher pay and school funding to succeed. The warning follows the teaching union’s decision to hold an indicative ballot of members regarding next year’s teacher pay award. By Matilda Martin. 

In an article for Independent School Management Plus, principal of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Simon Larter-Evans urges schools and parents not to suppress the talents of children who are drawn to vocational studies. Mr Larter-Evans writes: "When vocational drive is thwarted, either by denying access to explore it or because the opportunity is simply not available, the individual’s future selves can be denuded significantly."

Head of professional learning and growth at ACS International Schools Brianna Gray writes in Tes on how her schools group moved away from single-day continuing professional development (CPD) towards a structured series of sessions based on long-term education strategy. Ms Gray explains: "We have ensured that we are addressing needs at the group and individual school levels, all while keeping teachers inspired."

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) monitors the national and educational press in order to keep independent schools up-to-date with relevant education news. The DNS is a service primarily for schools in membership of ISC associations, although other interested parties can choose to sign-up. We endeavour to include relevant news and commentary and, wherever possible, notable public letters. Where capacity allows, we may include links to ISC blogs, press statements and information about school or association events. News stories are selected based on their relevance to the independent sector as a whole. Editorial control of the DNS remains solely with the ISC.

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