An article in The Telegraph reports on concerns that children could be turned away from coronavirus testing centres, after health secretary Matt Hancock announced tests would be prioritised for people with acute clinical needs and those in social care. By Robert Mendick, Gordon Rayner and Harry Yorke.

Mark Mortimer, headmaster of Bryanston School, writes to The Times urging the Government to resolve issues with the coronavirus testing system, warning: "The knock-on effect of a pupil showing possible symptoms is significant and disruptive."

The Times reports some parents have pretended to have a Scottish postcode in order to get coronavirus testing appointments for their children, as testing centres struggle to cope with the high demand. By Charlie Parker and Carol Lewis.

According to The Mail, 300 schools in England and Wales have had to close or send pupils home following positive coronavirus tests. By William Cole.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, has said the closure of schools should be "a last resort, temporary and only at a local level in areas with intense transmission". By Anne Gulland, The Telegraph.

New figures from the Department for Education show 88 per cent of pupils in England returned to school for the autumn term. BBC News.

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, has written to education secretary Gavin Williamson warning legal action could be taken if teachers are not adequately protected from the virus in schools. By Claudia Civinini, Tes.

According to The Times, some headteachers are seeking legal advice on whether they can prohibit school staff from travelling abroad during the half-term holiday. By Nicola Woolcock.

Tes reports remote learning has been embedded into initial teacher training programmes as schools adapt to new ways of teaching during the pandemic. By Amy Gibbons.

iNews features a spotlight piece on Bedales School, which allows pupils to have an extra hour in bed to 'improve pupils' academic performance and mental health'. By Will Hazell. The article quotes Alistair McConville, director of learning and innovation at the school.

An article in Tes features expert advice for those interested in becoming a director of sport at a school. By Robin Hardman. The article quotes Neil Rollings, chairman of the Professional Association of Directors of Sport in Independent Schools, and several members of staff at schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations.

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.