Tes reports on speculation that IGCSEs are less demanding than GCSEs and are, therefore, widening the gap between independent school pupils and state school pupils. By Will Hazell. Quotes Barnaby Lenon, chair of the Independent Schools Council; Shaun Fenton, head of Reigate Grammar School and chair elect of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference; and Ed Elliott, head of The Perse School.

There is further coverage following yesterday's A-level results. The Telegraph reports that Chinese A-level has overtaken German for the first time and has become the UK's third most popular language. Barnaby Lenon, chair of the Independent Schools Council, is quoted.

The Times reports on the success of a pupil at Cardiff Sixth Form College who has won a place to study medicine despite caring for her autistic brother and coping with a hearing impairment.

Edward Lucas writes a comment piece in The Times arguing that language teaching cannot afford to die. The Guardian also discusses the state of foreign languages in schools and references Malvern St James Girls’ School in Worcestershire who are celebrating nearly 40% of its pupils going on to read sciences, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at university. Richard Cairns, headmaster of Brighton College, is quoted by ITV News arguing that compulsory language education should be reintroduced.

Fiona Millar writes in The Guardian discussing what happens to those students who do not go on to university. The Times reports on 'hard-up' universities that are taking pupils who did not make the grade.

Kevin Stannard, director of innovation and learning at the Girls' Day School Trust, writes in Tes arguing that the impact of unconditional offers, linear exams and a narrow curriculum should be questioned.

Scottish ministers have fallen out over government plans to end business rates relief for independent schools. By Jamie McIvor, BBC News.

Damian Hinds MP, Education Secretary, has spoken up for BTECs and applied generals, acknowledging that not all students are suited to A-levels. By Julia Belgutay, Tes.

The Telegraph details the UK's highest paying degrees. By Ashley Kirk and Patrick Scott.

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.

Sign-up to the email service is available on our website.

Members can contact the ISC if they know in advance of news, letters or opinions that are likely to feature in the media, or are aware of existing coverage which they would like to see featured in the DNS.

Headlines and first-line summaries are written by the ISC with the link directing to the source material. You should read and comply with the terms and conditions of the websites to which we link.