Figures published by the Department for Education (DfE) have shown the gap in GCSE grades between disadvantaged pupils and their peers in England is the 'widest in 10 years'. Education experts and union leaders have called for a new child poverty strategy to address the worsening gap. By Richard Adams and Sally Weale, The Guardian. The seven key findings of the Key Stage 4 performance data are highlighted in Schools Week. By Samantha Booth.

As part of the Government's aim to increase the uptake of languages at GCSE, the DfE is reportedly planning new “benchmarks” around expected attainment levels for seven to 14-year-olds. By Amy Walker, Schools Week.

The final report published by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has found that Ofsted “did not do enough” to identify serious child protection weaknesses in some schools. Schools Week summarises some of the key findings in relation to the inspectorate and the wider school system.

School leaders have called for the Government to act immediately to prevent schools “nose diving” into industrial action, as rising costs threaten to affect the quality of school provision. By Callum Mason, Rhodri Morgan and John Roberts, Tes.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed that as many as half of all the maintained schools in some areas could go into financial deficit this year, warning that councils could be left with no option but to “relinquish” their maintained schools to manage their finances. By Donna Ferguson, Schools Week.

A feature in Tes explores the impact of falling birth rates across the UK, expected to have 'massive implications' for maintained schools which receive funding according to the number of pupils enrolled. By John Morgan.

Universities in England are reportedly doubling or tripling their hardships funds as they anticipate “unprecedented” demand from students finding it difficult to cope with rising living costs. By Rachel Hall, The Guardian.

A letter signed by the leaders of 12 organisations (including the four main teaching unions in England) has been sent to the Government, calling for it to commit to an expansion of free school meals. Not doing so would "undermine all the great efforts of the education workforce to tackle inequalities" they warn. By Callum Mason, Tes.

TV chef Tom Kerridge is the latest well-known personality to back calls for the extension of free school meals provision. By Harriet Robinson and David Garmston, BBC News.

Writing in The Telegraph, Nick Trend argues that school attendance levels, family budgets and student wellbeing could all benefit from a new system for school holiday dates.

The Daily News Summary will be taking a short break next week, returning on Monday 31 October for the start of the new school term.

From everyone at the Independent Schools Council, we wish you all a happy October half term!

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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