Letters in The Sunday Times discussed the public benefit of independent schools. Letter writers include Julie Robinson, general secretary of the Independent Schools Council, and Andrew Newland, chairman of governors at Westbrook Hay Prep School.

In The Times on Saturday, several letters discussed unconditional university offers. Letter writers include Kieran McLaughlin, headmaster of Durham School, and Louise Simpson, head at St Paul’s School in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Speaking at the Independent Schools Conference, Mike Buchanan, executive director of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), warned independent schools to engage with state schools or "the sector will diminish". By Dave Speck, Tes.

Donald Toon, head of economic and cyber crime at the National Crime Agency, has said independent schools should perform more background checks on families, to prevent being targeted by criminals. By Caroline Henshaw, Tes. The article quotes ISC general secretary, Julie Robinson.

The Mail on Sunday reports on a drop in the proportion of independent schools running language exchange programmes, which headteachers have said are burdened by background checks. By Abul Taher. The article quotes Mike Buchanan, executive director of the HMC.

Children's minister, Nadhim Zahawi MP, will announce a scheme offering discounted independent school places for children in care. By Christopher Hope, The Telegraph. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC.

The Telegraph money section discusses the cost of independent school fees, which demonstrate the "exceptional value placed on a British education around the world" but, at the same time, have priced many parents out of the system. By Marc Sidwell. Article references figures from the ISC Census.

Dr Bernard Trafford, writer, educationalist, musician and former independent school headteacher, argues that the nature of a teacher's job needs changing in order to ease the recruitment crisis. Tes.

Tes also reports on findings from a conference by the NASUWT teachers' union, which reveal only 24% of teachers plan to continue in the teaching profession long-term.

The exams regulator, Ofqual, is yet to publish data on the quality of marking variations between exam boards, despite mooting the idea in 2015. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

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.

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