Mike Buchanan, executive director of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses Conference, writes a letter to The Times highlighting the partnership work between independent and state schools to help disadvantaged young people get into the top universities. He argues in favour of contextual admissions but warns "a careful approach is needed".

Letter 1/3 of the way down the page.

The Council of British International Schools (COBIS) will expect its member schools to carry out comprehensive background checks on UK teachers working overseas, using the International Child Protection Certificate. By Adi Bloom, Tes. The article quotes Colin Bell, chief executive of COBIS.

The University of Warwick will lower its A-level offers for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, as part of a £10 million social mobility programme. By Will Hazell, Tes.

Ofsted’s chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, has said the exam stress felt by primary pupils is exacerbated by teachers, who are “encouraging children to feel anxious”. By Laura FitzPatrick, The Telegraph.

Rebecca Foster, a head of English and associate senior leader at Wyvern St Edmund’s Learning Campus, writes about her department's "high value, workload-friendly homework" initiative. Tes.

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.

Sign-up to the email service is available on our website.

Members can contact the ISC if they know in advance of news, letters or opinions that are likely to feature in the media, or are aware of existing coverage which they would like to see featured in the DNS.

Headlines and first-line summaries are written by the ISC with the link directing to the source material. You should read and comply with the terms and conditions of the websites to which we link.