Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association, has written to The Spectator to set the record straight following recent press commentaries, which 'present a caricature of independent schools'.

The letter appears half-way down the page.

Damian Hinds is due to unveil a character and resilience-building plan, which will enable all pupils to gain a "public school swagger". By Rosemary Bennett, The Times.

Does your school take part in an independent and state school partnership that is helping all pupils develop their character and resilience? If you'd like to write a blog about your project, please email georgina.belcher@isc.co.uk.

The UK's four chief medical officers have recommended a mobile phone ban during children's dinners and bedtimes. By Nick Triggle, BBC News.

To coincide with Children's Mental Health Week, Suzie Longstaff, head at Putney High School, has written a blog about screen time and its impact on teenage mental health.

Figures published by Ucas have revealed the number of university applications is up for the first time in three years - fuelled by applications from overseas. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

The Times reports the number of Chinese students applying to British universities may overtake those from Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Government has been accused of "lowering the bar" on teacher recruitment by teacher training providers. By Hannah Richardson, BBC News.

Joe Dromey, deputy director of research and development at the Learning and Work Institute, details five problems that need to be addressed in order to make T-levels work. Tes.

The education select committee has urged ministers to review the 30 hours free childcare policy, claiming it is "entrenching inequality". By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

The Independent Schools Association (ISA) and the Girls' Schools Association (GSA) have joined other organisations in signing up to The Great British Spring Clean. By Colin Fernandez, Daily Mail.

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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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