Best Schools - Independent school head teachers hit back at Labour’s ‘dodgy maths’

Independent school heads have accused Labour of gambling with the future of education by threatening to charge VAT on fees and scrap discounted business rates.

Such moves were “naive”, would “rip apart the fabric of education” and were a direct attack on jobs, dressed up as education reform, school leaders said.

Labour has previously stated that it would charge VAT on school fees if it came to power. A leaked document suggests that the party would go further by also removing discounted business rates from independent schools. The proposals could bring in £1.64 billion a year.

Mike Buchanan, executive director of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) which represents leading private schools, said: “The Labour campaign to effectively destroy independent schools is not only a fundamental attack on parental choice but would rip apart the fabric of education in this country. It is based on wrong assumptions and dodgy maths and will inevitably damage state schools.”

Sally-Anne Huang, head of James Allen’s Girls’ School in Dulwich, south London, said: “This naive policy neglects to consider that independent schools employ thousands of staff in areas such as cleaning, maintenance and catering.” She added: “Trying to destroy independent schools by making it impossible for them to operate may be dressed up as educational reform but it is a direct attack on jobs.”

Overhaul of university admissions could see students apply after getting A-level results

University admissions could be revolutionised so students only apply after they have received their A-level results, the Education Secretary has said.

In a letter sent to the universities watchdog, Gavin Williamson said the time was right to look at whether “post-qualification applications” (PQA) should be introduced.

The announcement comes just a month since Labour announced it will scrap admissions based on predicted grades if it comes to power.

While Scotland already uses a form of PQA for home students, England, Wales and Northern Ireland are alone in the developed world in using predicted grades to decide university offers.

Concerns have long been voiced about this system because predicted grades are often poor indicators of final results. Some studies have also shown that students from deprived backgrounds are more likely to have their grades under-predicted.

In a letter sent to the Office for Students on Monday, Mr Williamson said he supported a decision taken by the regulator to review university admissions.