Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, has said Britain should be “very proud” of its independent schools and not “tilt the system away from children who are performing” when it comes to Oxbridge admissions. By Steven Swinford and Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

In a letter to The Times, Louise Simpson, head of Exeter School, suggests that "British education is richer for the range of schools we have, providing choice for parents, and the collaboration and partnerships that exist between us and the maintained sector should be celebrated, not disparaged", in response to the education secretary's comments about independent education. The letter is the fifth featured on the page.

A leading article in The Times highlights the ways in which independent schools contribute to the wider education system, adding: "The real issue today is not between state and independent but between state schools in deprived areas and those serving middle-class catchment areas."

BBC News reports that some parents have been asked to help out during this year's exams, amid a shortage of invigilators fuelled by fears of catching COVID. By Hazel Shearing.

Journalist Libby Purves writes in The Times arguing that this year's A-level pupils deserve sympathy as they face "a Victorian pen-and-paper exam system, deadeningly tied to weary curriculums and innately biased against original thought" despite living in a modern world.

Schools Week interviews GCSE and A-level pupils ahead of this year's exam season. By John Dickens.

New findings from a study at the University of Bristol have found that children’s physical activity levels have remained below national guidelines even after COVID restrictions were lifted in Britain, suggesting lockdowns have had long-term impacts on exercise. By Sarah Knapton, The Telegraph.

The education secretary has apologised to headteachers for writing to schools on a Bank Holiday to inform them of plans to publish new school catch-up league tables, adding: "I recognise that sending the letter following schools' return after the Bank Holiday weekend would have been a better approach." By John Roberts, Tes.

According to analysis by the Liberal Democrats, funding for free school meals for four to seven-year-olds has been cut by more than £35 million in real terms amid soaring inflation. By Arj Singh, iNews.

Dr Hilary Jones, GP and supporter of the School and Nursery Milk Alliance, writes for The Times arguing that the Government must commit to subsidising the provision of school milk.

The Guardian takes a closer look at some of the 44 British universities that have signed up in recent weeks to “twin” with a struggling Ukrainian university. By Anna Fazackerley.

According to The Telegraph, Advance HE, a charity which counts scores of universities as members of its Racial Equality Charter scheme, has been criticised by government figures for pushing universities to “decolonise” their curricula. By Edward Malnick.

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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