BBC London News has aired a report on Westminster School's campaign to become needs-blind. The report can be viewed from 08:50 in the timeline.

Sussex University has carried out a survey, which has found a decline in the number of schools offering music A-level and a fall in the number of students starting a GCSE music course since 2016. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

BBC News reports on comments from the Local Government Association, which has expressed concern that council cutbacks will result in young people missing out on music lessons. By Katherine Sellgren.

The winner of the School Librarian of the Year 2018 competition has been revealed. By Helen Ward, Tes. The article references Alison Kennedy, of St George's School, Ascot, who was a finalist in the competition.

BBC News looks at the work being done by the charity Governors for Schools to encourage greater diversity on school governing boards. By Katherine Sellgren.

Schools Week reports on a National Governance Association proposal to replace governor exclusion boards with independent “exclusions tribunals”. By Jess Staufenberg.

A YouGov survey has found that close to 500,000 young people have no one to talk to if they feel worried or sad. By Eleanor Busby, The Independent.

The Telegraph reports that the Prime Minister has appointed the first ever minister for suicide prevention - coinciding with World Mental Health Day. By Laura Donnelly.

Islington Council and the Manor Gardens Welfare Trust have published a guide to help teachers identify the signs, and assess the risks, of female genital mutilation (FGM). By Kate Parker, Tes.

Imperial College London is planning a post-Brexit arrangement with a German university as part of a bid to retain access to EU research funding for UK academics. By Sean Coughlan, BBC News.

Angela Epstein writes in The Telegraph following the publication of a report by Plan International UK, which revealed that 35 per cent of girls have received unwanted sexual attention or contact while wearing their school uniform in public.

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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