In a letter to The Times, Jeremy Walker, head of St Peter's School, York, expresses pride expresses pride in his school being one of only two schools north of Nottingham to offer history of art at A-level. "The subject gives a deep understanding of art, culture, politics and society and has career benefits. Analytical and creative thinking are among the top five skills most required by employers", he writes. The letter appears below halfway.

There is further coverage of the news that two independent schools are set to close amid increasing financial pressures including the government's VAT on fees policy. The Sunday Times reports that Hunter Hall School in Cumbria will shut permanently on 17 December unless £180,000 in emergency funding can be raised by Wednesday. Paul Borrows, the school's headteacher, is quoted as saying: "The speed at which the tax changes came in did come as a shock to lots of people within the independent sector." The paper references figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which show 57 mainstream independent schools have closed since January, and 86 since Labour came to power in July 2024. Commenting on the situation, Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, warned: "We are likely to see further closures over the coming months and years as the effects of VAT and other tax measures mount up." Echoing the concerns, Dominic Norrish, chief executive of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), added: "The statistics on mainstream independent school closures show that preps have been disproportionately impacted. We warned the government before they imposed this tax on education that it would see some of the smallest and most affordable schools close, especially in rural areas. It is incredibly sad to be proven right on this quite so quickly." A parent with two children at the school told the paper: "With no other equivalent school nearby, closure would mean having to travel at least an hour every morning and evening to a new [independent] school. Our girls are so happy at Hunter Hall and we are dreading having to tell them if it does come to the worst." By Louise Eccles.

The Meadows Montessori School wrote to the parents of its 68 pupils last week to tell them of its "shock" closure at the end of the term, citing rising costs and falling pupil numbers. Samantha Sims, the school's headteacher, told The Telegraph ministers have not considered smaller independent schools like The Meadows, adding: "There is no thought process from anyone in government." Saqib Bhatti, the shadow education minister, warned: "Once again we see Bridget Phillipson’s vindictive policies forcing another school into closure. As we have always warned, the introduction of taxation on education would hurt the smallest schools. These are the very schools that play a vital role in their communities." Ms Robinson is also quoted in an article on the closure of Hunter Hall School in the Daily Mail, by Eleanor Harding. Both The Telegraph and Daily Mail refer to data from the ISC. A number of schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations are mentioned across the weekend's coverage.

The Sunday Times visits Aylsham High School where classrooms, which have their own "nurture centres", and small teaching groups are drawing families from across the region in search of better support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In Years 7, 8 and 9, pupils across all academic abilities who have complex needs have their own classroom in its "nurture centre" where they spend most of their time. Each classroom has one consistent teacher who teaches core subjects such as maths and English, but also sessions covering areas such as motor skills. The school, near Norwich, is such a "unicorn" among SEND provision that families are uprooting their lives to be near the comprehensive secondary. Kirstie Brown, who last year moved 60 miles from Suffolk to Norfolk to be in Aylsham High's catchment area, said "I feel like I have won the lottery", having secured a place for her 13-year-old-daughter, Amelie.

On Monday 8 December, the BBC will launch a brand-new podcast, SEND in the Spotlight, hosted by Nuala McGovern. The series, made by the team behind BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, will shine a light on the realities of life for children and young people with SEND, as well as the families, teachers, and professionals who support them. BBC Media Centre.

Campaigners are urging the government to pilot four-day school weeks in England and Wales to improve teacher wellbeing, retention, and recruitment. The 4 Day Week Foundation has called for schools to have more autonomy, warning the government cannot meet its pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers without change. While Scotland is trialing flexible four-day weeks, current guidance in England still requires state schools to operate five days a week, despite support for flexible working. By Jessica Murray, The Guardian. 

In a written question in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat MP Lee Dillon asked what steps ministers are taking to ensure that all school children receive adequate first aid training. Responding, Georgia Gould, Minister for School Standards, said all state schools are required to teach first aid as per the government's relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance. "Independent schools are required to cover health education as part of their responsibility to provide personal, social, health and economic education", she added. Hansard.

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