In a bid to help more primary school children learn to swim, Damian Hinds MP is joining with the Independent Schools Council (ISC) to encourage more independent schools to share their facilities. By Brendan Carlin, Mail on Sunday. Article quotes ISC chairman, Barnaby Lenon.

The Sun reports that plans by the Treasury to charge VAT on independent school fees have now been scrapped, due to opposition from Tory backbenchers. By Lynne Davidson.

Susie Mesure writes for iNews outlining her view on the advantages of attending a girls' school. Article references the Girls' Schools Association, The Stephen Perse Foundation in Cambridgeshire and Eltham College in London.

An investigation by The Guardian has revealed increasing demand for support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which is threatening to bankrupt many councils in England. By Sally Weale and Niamh McIntyre.

As teachers finish for half term, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, gives five reasons to be optimistic about education. Tes.

A growing number of parents have complained to the DfE about teachers' rights to punish children who have failed to do their homework. By Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times.

The Summer Camps Trust has said summer camps are wavering in popularity because parents are too worried “to let children out of their sight”. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

The Government has announced new measures which will tackle university "grade inflation", following an increase in the number of first-class degrees awarded. 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.

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