Louise Richardson, the vice-chancellor of Oxford University, has suggested the institution's low proportion of state school admissions can be explained by state schools not identifying their most academically gifted students. By Victoria Ward and Peter Stanford, The Telegraph.

A study has found that 11 per cent of disadvantaged children have learnt an instrument or attended after-school music activities, compared to 32 per cent of children from wealthier families. By Greg Hurst, The Times.

Does your school offer music-based opportunities to students as part of a state school partnership? If you would like to write a blog on the subject, please email emily.roberts@isc.co.uk for more details.

A report released by the Education Select Committee has concluded that a "multi-billion cash injection" is needed for schools and colleges across England, amid financial pressures from the growing pupil population. By Sean Coughlan, BBC News.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Tom Utley shares his personal experiences of independent schools and argues the proposals made by the Labour Against Private Schools campaign will not improve the education sector. The article references the Independent Schools Council.

Writing in Tes magazine, Kevin Stannard, director of innovation and learning at the Girls' Day School Trust, argues teachers should educate their pupils about historical environmental activists.

BBC News reports the rise in demand for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support could 'break' county council budgets. By Hannah Richardson.

Education secretary Damian Hinds has urged parents to make sure their children remain active during the school holidays, warning of the dangers associated with the overuse of technology and social media. By Richard Vaughan, iNews.

The Treasury is expected to announce the largest public sector pay rise in six years, with teachers and other school staff set to receive a pay increase of 2.75 per cent. By Steven Swinford, 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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