Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), has described pupil protests being spread by TikTok videos as “unacceptable”, adding that those involved are likely to face disciplinary action. By Peter Chappell, The Times.

Writing in The Telegraph about the recent spate of protests in schools, Celia Walden argues that although banning the use of mobile phones in schools would not stop the riots, it would be "a step in the right direction".

Schools will not be inspected by Ofsted on Wednesday or Thursday next week as teachers prepare to strike again over pay and funding. In the first national day of industrial action since 1 February, members of the National Education Union (NEU) in all nine regions of England are due to walk out. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

A new trial by the Department for Education (DfE) will offer overseas languages and physics teachers a £10,000 “relocation premium” to work in England. Open to both trainee and established teachers working outside the UK, the trial could see up to 400 individuals helped to relocate, at a cost of around £4 million. By John Dickens, Schools Week.

According to research by the charity Barnados, 30 per cent of the 1,010 parents surveyed are worried about losing their homes as a result of financial pressures worsened by the cost of living crisis, while almost half are struggling to afford to keep their home warm for their children. By Aasma Day, iNews.

The latest Women in Work report by accountancy firm PwC suggests the gender pay gap has widened significantly, with men earning (on average) 14.4 per cent more than women in Britain in 2021 compared to 12 per cent in 2020. By Tom Howard, The Times.

In an overhaul of England's student finance system, ministers have confirmed plans to allow people to access loans worth the same as four years of post-18 education (£37,000 in today's tuition fees) throughout their lives. It is hoped the lifelong loan entitlement (LLE) will make courses more flexible but the loans will not be available for remote learning. By Alice Evans, BBC News.

The Independent has learned that some students without family to offer financial support are leaving higher education because they cannot pay their rent, with some reportedly turning to lecturers for monetary help. The Unite Foundation charity is urging universities to provide rent guarantor services for students who have been in care or are estranged from their parents. By Andy Gregory.

The Times reports that Scotland's schools are likely to be affected by the adverse weather conditions and heavy snowfall expected later this week, with some 'almost certain to close'. By Paul Drury.

Writing in Schools Week, Ruth Sparkes looks at how best schools can navigate their way through a media storm. Ms Sparkes, managing director of an education PR and marketing agency, offers tips on how to communicate effectively in the event of a crisis.

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.