Independent schools should keep their tax relief, including VAT exemption on school fees, according to 48 per cent of respondents to a poll commissioned by the Independent School Council (ISC). 30 per cent of respondents to the Public First survey stated that this should be conditional on increasing public benefit, while 18 per cent believed the tax breaks should be retained regardless. Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, is quoted, saying: "We have consistently said that Labour's policy would not raise the money it claims. We support the idea of a fully funded education system, but penalising parents through a tax on school choice is not the way to go about it. We would welcome the opportunity to work with the Labour Party to build on the good work already being done by our schools to improve education for all." By Will Hazell, The Telegraph.

The threat posed by Labour's tax plans is making foreign institutes more attractive to UK parents facing rising school fees, according to The Telegraph, which focuses on the appeal of schools in Spain. There are 70,000 British students in the country currently studying under the British educational system across more than 80 different schools. A UK parent is quoted, saying: “Labour’s plan is very bad, and I predict it would impact thousands of families who send children to private school. They will end up looking elsewhere – especially Spain.” Reference is made to recent research by the ISC. By James Fitzgerald.

The Guardian's editorial reflects on plans by the Labour Party to reform education. On the issue of taxing independent school fees, it warns that "Labour will have to hold its nerve in the fight over tax breaks".

In a column in The Sunday Telegraph, Simon Heffer argues that Sir Keir Starmer’s attack on independent schools is an attack on the high standards that help children to achieve articulacy. Mr Heffer warns: "He (Sir Keir) seems to think this will give the Treasury a windfall he can use to recruit more teachers and raise standards. It won’t."

Education secretary Gillian Keegan is reportedly keen to secure a 6.5 per cent pay rise for teachers to end strike action, with sources saying she has urged the Treasury to agree to the average pay rise for teachers in the autumn. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

The Observer reports that senior teaching union figures are looking to target the Conservative Party conference this autumn, in particular prime minister Rishi Sunak’s keynote speech, which is seen as crucial since it will effectively mark the beginning of the general election run-in. By Michael Savage and Toby Helm.

Ministers are considering making changes to transgender guidance for schools so it will be harder for pupils to socially transition to their preferred gender. The Telegraph understands that publication of the new guidance has been delayed amid a backlash from Conservative MPs over plans to allow pupils to be able to choose their own pronouns if parents give their consent. By Louisa Clarence-Smith.

Writing in Tes, David Alcock points to the evidence supporting the use of pupil-led learning in the classroom, and says the end of term provides the perfect opportunity for schools to try it out. "Deployed wisely throughout the term, it can build trust between students and teachers, and can provide us with new insights," Mr Alcock, a geography teacher at Bradford Grammar School, explains.

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.