It’s been quite the year for Bridget Phillipson. The under fire Education Secretary is now regularly tipped as one of the ministers most likely to be moved at the next reshuffle. Her Schools Bill has been lambasted for its impact on academies while her private school tax raid is hitting the state school sector too.
Yet despite dire warnings about the impact of putting VAT on independent school fees, Phillipson seems indifferent to their fate. For a Freedom of Information request by Steerpike has confirmed that she is yet to visit a single one in nearly a year in office. According to the Department for Education:
Minister Morgan and Minister McKinnell have visited a private school in their ministerial capacities since 5 July 2024. Minister Morgan visited the Cavendish School. Minister McKinnell visited the Royal Ballet School. The Secretary of State for Education has not visited a private school in her ministerial capacity since 5 July 2024. Ministers also regularly engage with independent school bodies.
So that’s two visits by seven ministers in almost 12 months. The next reshuffle can’t come soon enough…
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