The Sunday Times reports millions of families with school-age children are to be offered free COVID-19 tests twice a week as part of school reopening plans. By Caroline Wheeler, Andrew Gregory and Sian Griffiths. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, in reference to the reopening of independent schools.

According to The Telegraph, some schools are reducing their output of "live" online lessons for up to a fortnight to carry out mass testing of pupils before they return to classrooms. By Robert Mendick.

Schools Week explores how some schools are cutting screen time to boost the mental and physical health of staff and pupils learning from home. By James Carr.

Professor Calum Semple, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, has said that "improving air exchanges" through opening classroom windows would be an effective way of reducing the transmission of COVID-19 in schools. By Tom Batchelor, The Independent.

Colin Drury writes in The Independent about how a "vocal minority" have reacted negatively to the Government's decision to recommend mask-wearing in secondary schools.

Dr Susan Hopkins, COVID-19 strategic response director to Public Health England and chief medical adviser to NHS Test and Trace, writes in The Telegraph stating: "Face to face education is the best place to be for children's learning, health and wellbeing."

Professor Russell Viner, the president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, has warned that prolonged school closures risk "permanent scarring" to children's health and wellbeing. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

The Observer reports on concerns that the number of children referred for mental health support will surge when schools reopen. By Michael Savage.

According to a new international poll, British university students are among the most likely to say their mental health has declined during the pandemic. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

Lindsay Paterson, professor of education policy at Edinburgh University, writes in The Sunday Times highlighting the impact the pandemic has had on Scottish pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

Jamie Greene, Scotland's shadow education secretary, has called for the reopening of Scottish schools to be brought forward to 15 March. By Simon Johnson, The Telegraph.

Jonathan Simons and Ed Dorrell, directors at Public First, write in The Times warning proposals to extend the school day to help children with their learning "risk widening socio-economic divides".

The Prince of Wales has said he is "enormously impressed" with the way teachers have supported pupils and their families during lockdown. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Carolyn Roberts, a headteacher and co-director of the PTI charity, writes in The Telegraph proposing measures to boost children's learning post-pandemic.

The Guardian explores how women and girls have taken the opportunity to explore new business ventures during lockdown. By Amelia Hill. The article mentions Joely To, an A-level student who set up Pioneer, a non-profit enterprise created to inspire a passion for maths in girls aged 11 to 18.

The Observer reports tutors working for private companies under the National Tutoring Programme are being paid a fraction of the hourly rate charged. By Donna Ferguson.

According to The Sunday Times, the Department of Education declined an offer from Apple to supply thousands of discounted iPads for disadvantaged pupils learning from home. By Colin Coyle.

According to research from the Education Policy Institute, poorer students aged 16-19 are the equivalent of three grades behind their wealthier peers across all qualifications. BBC News.

The Sunday Times reports some independent schools have seen a decrease in the number of pupils accepted into Oxbridge. By Sian Griffiths.

According to The Guardian, some universities are using informal waiting lists to encourage school leavers to accept their offers amid uncertainty over A-level results. By Rachel Hall and Richard Adams.

Universities minister Michelle Donelan has been met with criticism after claiming the decolonisation of the university curriculum risks 'fictionalising history'. By Peter Stubley, The Independent.

According to a report from Bite Back 2030, children are being bombarded with 500 junk food adverts a day during the pandemic. By Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times.

A campaign group has called on broadcasters and streaming networks to make subtitles the default setting on children's TV programmes to help improve their reading and literacy skills. By Shingi Mararike, The Sunday 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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