The Independent Schools Council (ISC) has written to Labour councillors and MPs outlining the cost to taxpayers should independent schools be abolished. This follows a campaign launched by Labour Against Private Schools to integrate fee-paying schools into the state system. The article quotes from letters written by Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Referencing a Panorama programme on the issue, Labour MP Emma Hardy has claimed both the Department for Education and nationwide protesters are 'pressuring' schools into dropping new LGBT-inclusive relationship lessons. By James Hockaday, Metro.

Writing in The Telegraph, Richard Cairns, head of Brighton College, says new relationship lessons can help teach acceptance from a young age, ensuring "no child feels uncomfortable or inferior because of his or her parents' choices, circumstances or background". The letter can be found three quarters of the way down the page.

A survey conducted by the Department for Education revealed that despite 99.5 per cent of school leaders claiming to have reduced workloads, less than half of teachers report having more manageable workloads. By Pippa Allen-Kinross, Schools Week.

Findings from a survey conducted by the Coram Family and Childcare children's charity show that prices of holiday childcare in Britain have risen by 3% since last summer, despite provision remaining 'inadequate'. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

A group of education professionals has been created to help formulate five new national professional qualifications, in an effort to expand career opportunities for teachers. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Figures obtained by Neil O'Brien, Conservative MP for Harborough, show the number of small village primary schools has dropped, while supersize schools continue to grow. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Netflix has edited out a controversial scene in the show '13 Reasons Why' depicting the main character taking her own life, following research suggesting suicides among young people in America rose by almost a third in the month the show was aired. By Matthew Moore, The Times.

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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