According to iNews, Labour is considering protecting "crucial" public sector workers under its plans to reinstate a tax on large pension pots. This comes amid warnings from senior education leaders and pension experts that the policy would have a major impact on the retention of headteachers in schools. The Association of School and College Leaders told iNews it was "concerned" that senior school leaders leaving the education sector could be an "unintended consequence" of the plans. By Callum Mason and Chloe Chaplain. 

Freedom of Information figures from the Department for Education have shown that the rate of black Caribbean girls being excluded from schools has tripled within the past year. The data has also revealed that, in the academic year 2021-22, this group was excluded at double the rate of white British girls, while girls from traveller backgrounds also experienced worse school outcomes. By Nadine White, The Independent. 

Staff at Newham Collegiate Sixth Form are to teach lessons in Classics that will aim to provide students, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds, with the kind of “rich diet of knowledge” typical of independent schools. Welcoming the initiative, head of Epsom College Sir Anthony Seldon said: “This is an exciting idea... I also think it’s very good they are aiming for US universities. It’s been overwhelmingly independent schools that have tended to send young people to US universities.” By Sally Weale, The Guardian. 

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.