The East Sussex independent school is making the move to ban plastic water bottles, plastic straws and non-biodegradable cups following a campaign by sixth formers to use less plastic. By Eleanor Busby, The Independent. Article quotes Richard Cairns, headmaster at Brighton College. Also reported by The Telegraph, The Times and the Daily Mail.

The Higher Education Policy Institute and charity Brightside have published a new report looking at how to widen access in the sector. By Rosemary Bennett, The Times. Also reported by The Independent and BBC News. The Guardian picks up on the report's recommendation to do more to help white, working-class boys in England to go on to higher education.

Lindsay Graham, a child food poverty policy adviser, has warned that disadvantaged schoolchildren are at risk of becoming isolated during long summer holidays. By Emma Seith, Tes.

Mike Buchanan, head of Ashford School and chair of HMC 2016-17, will be the association’s new executive director. By John Roberts, Tes.

The Guardian is inviting teachers, parents and pupils to share their views of the new GCSEs as more reforms are rolled out this summer.

The Times has compiled music playlists for students to listen to during revision sessions.

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.