The independent schools sector has warned of the impact a VAT on fees policy would have on the country's education system, following the publication of the Labour Party's manifesto. By Rosemary Bennett, The Times. The article quotes Julie Robinson, ISC chief executive, David Goodhew, headmaster at Latymer Upper School, and the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference.

Tes reports that independent school teachers rate Labour as having the best education policies. By Charlotte Santry. The publication also features a news article saying the Party has "no immediate plans to axe private schools". By Catherine Lough and Claudia Civinini.

Schools Week details the full list of schools policies in Labour's manifesto.

Read the ISC statement in response to the Labour Party manifesto here.

The Telegraph examines the difference in offer rates at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. By Katie Russell.

Writing in his role as professor of education at the University of Buckingham, Barnaby Lenon says "the age of 16 is a sensible moment to assess progress in many school subjects, most of which are going to be dropped". The Times. The letter can be found half way down the page.

A former chief examiner has suggested Ofqual should investigate the fact that a fifth of students now get extra time in exams. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Schools Week reports that hundreds of headteachers have used their personal email accounts to communicate with election candidates about school funding pressures. By John Dickens.

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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