Rishi Sunak is to launch a review into relationships and sex education (RSE) in schools after evidence presented to the Government indicated the widespread teaching of "age inappropriate" materials in schools. By Catherine Lough and Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

Teaching unions have welcomed the review, but have described the timing of the launch as "politically motivated". By Aletha Adu and Richard Adams, The Guardian.

Union leaders have said ministers are "not serious about finding ways” of resolving the pay dispute, after they claimed their attempt to cease the current deadlock had been rejected by MPs. No talks have taken place between unions and the Government since Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, asked for the National Education Union's (NEU) strike action to be called off before further negotiations could happen. By Matilda Martin, Tes.

According to the FDA union, senior Ofsted inspectors have “significant concerns” about plans to start school visits on Monday next week ahead of national teacher strikes. By John Roberts, Tes.

Unison, the biggest union for school support staff, is preparing to ballot members on potential strike action over pay, warning that the employers' offer for the next financial year “falls short of what’s needed”. By Tom Belger, Schools Week.

In a written question for the Department for Education (DfE), Lilian Greenwood, Labour MP for Nottingham South, asked the secretary of state for education "if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of private schools on social mobility in the East Midlands". In response, Nick Gibb said: "The Government is committed to levelling up and spreading opportunity throughout the country, including in the East Midlands. There are no plans to undertake this specific assessment."

Mr Gibb referred to data from the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and the widescale partnership activity taking place across the independent and state sectors. He added: "The Department has a joint understanding with the ISC that sets out how the independent sector will work in partnership with state schools to help raise attainment and, in particular, help pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds." Hansard.

According to a report by the Sutton Trust, the tuition gap between rich and poor families in England has nearly disappeared as a result of the Government's pandemic recovery programme, but it is being threatened by funding costs. By Richard Adams, The Guardian.

Writing in The Times, Sir Peter Lampl expolores the creation of the National Tutoring Programme and says the Sutton Trust, of which he is chairman, has long been campaigning around issues on tutoring. On government funding for the scheme, he says: "Now would be the worst time to withdraw commitment to it."

A report by the charity Coram has found the average annual cost of a full-time nursery place for a child under two in Great Britain is now £14,836, a rise of 5.9 per cent in the last year. By Vanessa Clarke, Navtej Johal and Callum Thomson, BBC News.

Health leaders have warned that a “cliff edge” in public health funding could result in fewer school nurses, creating future health problems for children. There are presently 1,934 school nurses in England, the lowest on record, compared with more than 3,000 a decade ago. By Eleanor Hayward, The Times.

In an article marking National Careers Week, academy trust leader Nic Crossley looks at how schools can support young people with SEND to fulfil their ambitions in the workplace. Schools Week.

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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