Research by the Private Education Policy Forum (PEPF) suggests independent schools are making 'lucrative incomes' from their subsidiaries abroad, with 40 British schools taking in £29 million in 2020-21, compared with £1.6 million in 2011-12. The Guardian reports that such schools have been 'rushing' to open satellite schools overseas to increase revenue amid fears that an incoming Labour government would remove their charitable status. A spokesperson for the Independent Schools Council (ISC) said: “It takes years to plan and set up satellite schools, so the idea that this is a kneejerk reaction to Labour’s policy is definitely wide of the mark." Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, is also quoted, pointing out that money generated is invested back in UK education, "usually through bursaries and scholarships".

An accompanying item in The Guardian explores UK independent schools and their partnerships overseas.

Both articles are written by Richard Adams.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), writes to The Sunday Telegraph expressing "deep concern" over reports that the Bank of England Museum reserves group talks and presentations for state pupils only. Ms Robinson says that all children deserve to learn from the Bank's rich resources and that she would welcome dialogue to discuss the issue. Referencing the diversity of pupil backgrounds at independent schools, Ms Robinson concludes: "While we support the ambition to widen the circle of young people engaging with economics, there are more positive routes to doing so than actively denying students the opportunity to learn." The letter can be found halfway down the page.

Kevin Courtney, co-general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), has refused to rule out strike action during GCSE and A-level exams in the summer, with "more than half of all schools” set to close or partially close when teachers hold a national strike on Wednesday and Thursday this week. The Times. 

The general secretary of the NAHT, Paul Whiteman, has told The Observer that headteachers may soon be reballoted over strike action to increase pressure on the Government. By Anna Fazackerley.

iNews looks at when the next strikes will take place and where they will be. By Ruth Comerford.

Teachers in membership of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) have voted to accept a pay offer, which will see an end to the wave of school strikes taking place. By Dan Barker, The Times.

Two strike dates in Wales have been called off after the education minister, Jeremy Miles, offered to give teachers an 8 per cent increase in pay for 2022-23. BBC News. 

Plans being considered by the Department for Education (DfE) could see relationships and sex education (RSE) classes given "ceilings" to limit what pupils of a certain age can be taught. The DfE is reportedly seeking to strike a "balance" to ensure children continue to have “the education they need to be safe”. By Will Hazell, The Telegraph.

The Times includes a feature looking at some of the concerns parents have expressed over the nature of sex education lessons in schools. By James Beal and Nicola Woolcock.

Today's leading article in The Times says that "sex education is necessary but poor guidance on its limits risks harming children".

A sex education resource promoted by the Welsh Government has claimed biological sex “is not just ‘male’ and 'female’". A section of the resource focusing on gender identity encourages teachers to make batches of blueberry muffins to represent stereotypes of masculinity, raspberry muffins to represent stereotypes of femininity, and mixed muffins “to represent gender fluidity”. Critics have described the 170-page pamphlet as “highly inappropriate”. By Ewan Somerville and Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

Activists at Bold Voices, an intersectional feminist group running anti-Andrew Tate classes for schools, have vowed to “dismantle” the idea of binary gender. Designed for teachers and seen by The Telegraph, the group has produced a new toolkit on “how to talk to young people" about the British-American influencer. By Ewan Somerville.

Bridget Phillipson told delegates at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) conference that a Labour government would replace school ratings, such as outstanding and inadequate, with a “report card”. The shadow education secretary said Ofsted’s current system of ratings “is high stakes for staff but low information for parents” as it does not to convey important details about a school’s strengths and weaknesses. By Richard Adams, The Guardian.

ASCL members also heard Ms Phillipson say that Labour would bring in annual safeguarding reviews for schools in England, as concerns about children’s safety and wellbeing are being “missed” due to “infrequent” inspections by Ofsted. By Jane Clinton, The Guardian.

The chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is to announce that parents claiming universal credit will receive more assistance with childcare costs when he announces his Budget this Wednesday. By Rachel Russell, BBC News.

iNews reports that would-be parents are reserving places on nursery waiting lists for children they have yet to conceive as the demand for childcare is so high. By Katie Grant.

A study commissioned by Warburtons has found 72 per cent of educators notice a 'significant difference' between students who eat breakfast and those who do not. A further 97 per cent of teachers have said they believe breakfast, such as a bowl of cereal or toast, is very important to the success of pupils at school. By Lucy Brimble, The Independent.

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.