The Association of School and College Leaders has warned that urgent action is needed to "stop the spiral of decline" in the popularity of A-level English literature. By Aine Fox, The Independent.

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, has said that "an extraordinary gender difference in subject choice" still exists at A-level, despite attempts to encourage more girls into maths and science. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

Chris Parry, headteacher of Lewis School, Pengam, writes in Tes reflecting on the past year and what lies ahead for A-level pupils in Wales.

Tes features differing reactions of teachers in Scotland to this year's SQA exam results.

Clare Marchant, the chief executive of UCAS, has suggested that more students should be steered towards apprenticeships than traditional degrees to help bring down rising demand for higher education places. By Zoe Tidman and Kate Devlin, The Independent.

Carl Cullinane, the director of research and policy at the Sutton Trust, has said that universities need to be "transparent" about how they use information to prioritise disadvantaged students. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

Dr Martin Stephen, a former independent school headteacher, writes in The Telegraph stating that reports of teenagers from the most affluent backgrounds being the least likely of any group to have received a university offer "should ring alarm bells at every level".

Writing in The Telegraph, Allison Pearson claims that bright teenagers from middle-class families "are no longer in a fair fight" for university places.

An editorial piece in The Telegraph argues that "universities should place ability above social engineering".

An article in The Times explores why more British students are favouring Ivy League universities over top UK universities. By Georgina Roberts and Blanca Schofield.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that financial support for university students is failing to keep up with rising inflation, leaving students facing an unprecedented increase in living costs. By Poppy Wood, iNews.

The Government has warned schools in England not to send children home to save on energy costs this winter, following reports that some schools are considering three or four day-weeks to save money. BBC News.

Five charities are calling on Conservative leadership candidates Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak to take action to reform the care system for vulnerable children in England. By Emaan Warraich, BBC News.

Rob Ford, director of Heritage International School, Moldova, writes in Independent School Management Plus magazine on the importance of school leaders influencing policymakers on key issues.

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