A Moderate Private School Exodus Post-VAT and Wi-Fi Fund Narrows to 'Stuck' Schools

Welcome to The Daily School Leaders Briefing. Today's essential update for UK school leaders covers the first significant data on how new taxes are affecting the independent school sector, and important changes to the eligibility criteria for government funding to boost school Wi-Fi connectivity.

Key Briefings Inside:

1. Impact of VAT on Private Schools (ISC Census): We analyse the findings of the Independent Schools Council's (ISC) first annual census since Labour introduced VAT on private school fees and business rates. Discover the extent of pupil number changes, with a 2.4% drop (around 13,000 pupils) across participating ISC schools – significantly exceeding government estimates. Explore regional variations, with London least affected and the North/Midlands experiencing larger decreases. Understand how schools have adjusted fees, with an average 6.7% rise before VAT, then an average 5% cut, effectively passing on 14% VAT. Learn about the surprising increase in bursary provision, with schools providing over £1.1 billion in fee assistance. We also cover the contrasting views of the ISC's interim chair, Mark Taylor, citing a "triple whammy" on finances, and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who accused private schools of having "cried wolf".

   Keywords: ISC census 2025, private school VAT impact, independent school pupil numbers, business rates schools, school fees adjustment VAT, private school bursaries, Mark Taylor ISC, Bridget Phillipson private schools, Institute for Fiscal Studies fees.

   
   

2. School Wi-Fi Scheme ("Connect the Classroom") Eligibility Restricted to 'Stuck' Schools: Learn about the Department for Education's decision to limit the "Connect the Classroom" scheme, which provides grants for improving school Wi-Fi, exclusively to 'stuck' schools eligible for the new RISE (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence) support programme. Understand how this replaces the previous prioritisation of schools in Education Investment Areas (EIAs), a programme axed by the current government. We detail the £25 million funding available for 2025-26 and the government's rationale comparing it to the scheme's initial launch funding. Discover that around 400 'stuck' schools are set to benefit. We also touch on the discontinuation or review of other EIA-linked funding streams. Analyse the implications for schools previously in EIAs and the sharpened focus of this particular support on RISE schools.

   Keywords: Connect the Classroom scheme, school Wi-Fi funding UK, RISE schools support, DfE connectivity standards, Education Investment Areas EIA changes, school technology grants, Priority Education Investment Areas PEIA funding.