Tom Legge describes how independent schools are adapting to the shifting education landscape

A new Labour government is gradually imprinting its vision on Britain’s education system, prompting independent schools to confront a long-feared set of changes. Debates that have long simmered – over fairness, funding, accessibility and charitable status – have returned with fresh political urgency. Yet, in this season of upheaval, there is clear space for the sector to thrive by adopting agnostic autonomy, echoing the government’s own emphasis: raising standards over overhauling the system for its own sake.

VAT and financial pressures: For a handful of the most prestigious institutions, the imposition of VAT on fees may amount to little more than a fiddly accounting exercise. However, the same cannot be said for those with slimmer profit margins.

Still, there are glimmers of optimism.

New allies: The proposed amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – introduced by Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrats’ education spokesperson – might at first appear just another blow to independent schools. It extends constraints on profiteering, historically focused on children’s social care, into the realm of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The target is companies seen to be extracting sizeable returns from a system widely viewed as dysfunctional.

Yet for most independent schools, profit is not the foremost motivator. By distinguishing themselves from opportunistic private equity ventures, they can underscore their commitment to educational excellence rather than commercial gain. In so doing, they become values-driven in the public eye – a position that carries moral weight and protects them from damaging associations.

New and expanding independent schools: Meanwhile, there is an unprecedented pipeline of new independent school projects. A tangled web of staffing shortages, the lingering aftershocks of the pandemic, and deficiencies in commissioning for SEND and alternative provision (AP) has created conditions where new operators can flourish.

Granted, there remain a handful of providers that still manage to harvest hefty profits from SEND and AP. But well-counselled newcomers could help plug gaps that state-maintained and academy institutions cannot fill. Existing schools too are looking afresh at their admissions, increasingly welcoming pupils with more complex needs that have emerged in the aftermath of Covid-19.

All independent schools should keep a watchful eye on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – along with the deliberations of the Education Select Committee. These developments carry implications stretching well beyond the state sector.

In short, independent schools face both a moral imperative and an economic opportunity to keep pace with this evolving policy landscape.

New partnerships: Collaboration between independent and state schools is hardly novel; shared facilities have been around for decades. But today, such arrangements are expanding well beyond the use of a swimming pool. They may soon include formal governance structures linking the two sectors.

United Learning provides a useful blueprint, operating both independent schools and the country’s largest academy trust under the same umbrella. While full-scale mergers remain uncommon, there is ample opportunity for creative partnerships that serve both sides.

Though Labour’s precise stance on academies is still forming, schools across the UK – regardless of governance model – are grappling with financial headwinds. Where local authorities plead insufficient resources to buttress schools in straits, independent institutions can offer valuable operational know-how honed by years of managing without official backing.

The upshot is simple: money worries afflict every school, be it state-maintained or privately run. A commercial mindset – encompassing shared services, outsourcing, or indeed mergers – could ease the strain for all involved. Beyond mere belt-tightening, such cooperation paves the way for enhanced professional development and refined leadership practices.

New beginnings: Labour’s approach to education sets the stage for independent schools to reevaluate their place in the grander system. At a moment when isolationism in geopolitics appears fashionable, Britain’s schools have again and again found that collaboration yields stronger, more enduring results.

Instead of resisting the changing tide, independent schools have a prime opportunity to affirm their public value. By championing policies that serve the common good, they underscore their vital role in shaping the nation’s educational future.

Final reflections: As Labour’s reforms progress, independent schools stand at a crossroads. Those clinging to outmoded models risk succumbing to heightened political scrutiny and tightening finances. On the other hand, those embracing partnerships, investing in innovation, and fortifying their social mission, will likely find themselves poised for a sustainable and influential future.

By adapting rather than digging in their heels, independent schools may not only survive but emerge with an enhancing sector reputation and ever more important to the broader educational landscape.

Tom Legge is managing director at professional services firm Premier Advisory Group

Tom Legge