Julian Thomas, head of Wellington College, writes for Tes about his school's ambitious campaign to increase bursary provision, arguing that independent schools can transform lives by offering fee remission to those with limited financial means.

Helen Jeys, headmistress at Alderley Edge School for Girls, writes in Independent Education Today about her experience at the Global Conference for Girls in Education, hosted in Washington DC. The article also references Claire Hewitt, head of Manchester High School for Girls.

Schools can learn from examples in Vietnam and Poland, it has been claimed, with Vietnamese schools excelling in science and Polish schools doing well in reading. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

As part of Tes's #LetThemTeach campaign, a parliamentary petition has been created calling for the whole teaching profession to be put on the shortage occupation list for visas. By Will Hazell.

Education experts have warned that the Government's proposals for young children to be tested in the first few weeks of primary school could increase the 'coaching culture' - with nursery-aged children having private tuition for exams. By Eleanor Busby, The Independent.

New research suggests councils are better than academy trusts at improving the inspection grades of schools rated inadequate by Ofsted. By Judith Burns, BBC News.

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.