Writing in Independent School Management Plus, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Julie Robinson calls on the sector to take Labour's plans for independent schools - which would break the principle that education is not taxed - seriously. Stressing that the ISC is fighting the policy, not opposing Labour as a political party, Ms Robinson urges schools to maximise the intense scrutiny of Sir Keir Starmer's tax plans and take the opportunity to demonstrate the valuable partnership work taking place. She writes: "We can create noise, but it’s you on the ground who can make a difference by turning that national noise into a local focus."

Research by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has found schools are increasingly struggling to recruit teachers, with tens of thousands of vacancies being advertised. The REC has said issues over pay are not being addressed. By Alan Jones, The Independent.

In a feature for Tes, Gráinne Hallahan explores the reasons why teachers over the age of 50 are leaving the classroom and not returning.

The Early Years Alliance is calling for a review of the grades given by Ofsted inspectors. The charity, which represents nurseries, preschools and childminders, took a snapshot survey of early years' staff, which revealed many of them found inspections stressful. By Vanessa Clarke, BBC News.

In the wake of a study on schools' links to the slave trade, Conservative MP and chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Independent Education Andrew Lewer has advised independent schools to focus on keeping fees down for hard-working parents. Mr Lewer said: “Although it is right for independent schools to learn more about their history, they ought not to allow themselves to be seduced by organisations or woke academics that do not – to say the least – have their best interests at heart." By Craig Simpson, The Telegraph.

Headteachers attending a closed event for the spring conference of HMC (The Heads’ Conference) have been given advice on how to support pupils with gender dysphoria from Bobbi Pickard, chief executive of Trans in the City and a former trustee of the charity Mermaids. A group of parents of trans-identifying children have subsequently raised concerns over the talk, which they say presents a “simplistic and glamorised perspective” instead of “offering school leaders an understanding of the complexity and vulnerability of their trans-identified students”. A spokesperson from HMC said: “HMC believes in the importance of listening to people with a diverse range of experiences and opinions, people who many people consider to be experts in their own fields. We do not necessarily endorse or support the stance of any speakers at our conferences as our members rightly reserve the right to make up their own minds based on the context of their own schools." By Ewan Somerville and Catherine Lough, The Telegraph.

Figures published by Ofqual have revealed the number of GCSE grades changed after results were appealed last year leapt by nearly three quarters compared with 2019 when formal exams were last held. There were 470 appeals that led to at least one GCSE grade change in 2021-22, a 71 per cent increase from the 275 recorded in 2018-19. By Matilda Martin, Tes.

Scotland's deputy first minister, Shona Robison, has insisted that free school meals will be brought in for all pupils in Scottish primary schools, although she said SNP ministers were reviewing whether to target help for secondary pupils. By Katrine Bussey, The Times.

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.