The Sunday Times has published a number of articles as part of its Scotland Independent Schools Review. The art of handwriting is considered amid the debate over screen use in schools. Also featured are topics including artificial intelligence, political literacy and climate change. Several schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations are mentioned. All articles are by Malcolm Jack. 

A new report from the Resolution Foundation think tank has found people in their early 20s were more likely to be out of work as a result of ill health than those in their early 40s. Individuals in their 20s were also more likely to experience a mental disorder than any other age group, marking a “complete reversal” to two decades ago when they were the least likely. By James Beal, The Times.

England's schools should have shorter summer holidays and longer half-term breaks to improve the lives of children and teachers, according to a new report by the Nuffield Foundation. Due to be published next month, the report looking at tackling post-pandemic education inequalities is to recommend an overhaul of the school calendar. By Richard Adams, The Guardian. 

A growing number of women and girls under the age of 20 are getting pregnant despite overall fertility falling across England and Wales, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown. Professor Geeta Nargund, a senior NHS consultant and medical director of two leading fertility groups, has called for schools to provide lessons on fertility to better equip young people for the future. By Katie Gibbons, The Times. 

The Observer reveals that the government has halted plans to double the number of doctors being trained in England by 2031. A leaked letter to the Office for Students from health minister Andrew Stephenson and minister for skills, apprenticeships and higher education Robert Halfon says only 350 additional places for trainee doctors will be funded in 2025-26, less than a quarter of the widely anticipated annual number. By Toby Helm.

Writing in Tes, welfare lead Heather Fowler warns that without a quality benchmark for safeguarding training, many designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) will be left ill-equipped for the demands of such a complex position. Calling on ministers to act, Ms Fowler says: "The government should review the current myriad DSL training courses and consolidate and align them with the rigours of other national professional qualifications - such as is happening with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) roles."

Former president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services Alan Wood argues that the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) should replace Ofsted in the inspection of safeguarding in schools. Outlining how the process might work, he explains: "LSCPs could be required to provide their assessment of their area’s strengths and challenges annually to the Department for Education and Ofsted". 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.

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.