The Tes Schools Awards were held on Friday evening to celebrate the commitment, quality and innovation shown by teachers and support staff throughout the UK. There were 23 awards categories this year, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to Barnaby Lenon, former head of Harrow School and chair of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), who was appointed CBE in 2019 for services to education. 

Schools recognised by this year's Tes Schools Awards include Abingdon House School, for Best Use of Technology, and Edgeborough, which was named Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Setting of the Year. Sue Woodroofe, principal of The Grammar School at Leeds, was awarded Headteacher of the Year (Independent). Congratulations also go to Bredon School, Rosemead Preparatory School & Nursery, and Royal Grammar School, which were named Boarding School of the Year, Independent Prep School of the Year and Independent Senior School of the Year, respectively. By Ramsay Hodgson. Also covered by Independent School Management Plus.

Lisa Kerr, the former headteacher of Gordonstoun and principal of George Watson's College, has criticised the VAT on fees policy, highlighting "the significant economic impact [independent schools] have on our communities and the benefits that are at stake as the sector shrinks". Speaking to The Times, she said: "Our school alone contributed £34.8 million in GVA [gross value added] to the Edinburgh economy, supporting 580 jobs in the city. Across Scotland, our impact rose to £44.7 million GVA and 680 jobs." Warning that pupil movement into the state sector "will put serious strain on the public purse", Ms Kerr called on the government to "go back to the calculator" and reconsider its tax policy. By Catriona Stewart.

The Telegraph reports that children attending independent schools have faced increased abuse and bullying following the introduction of the VAT on fees policy. Parents and pupils tell the paper they have been targeted with derogatory comments, reportedly fuelled by divisive rhetoric from government ministers, including education secretary Bridget Phillipson. Critics argue that such language has created an "us vs them" mentality, driving hostility towards independent school families. Some parents share their experiences of having been publicly shamed, while others, like nurse Sarah Lambert, have faced online trolling. By Pieter Snepvangers.

Fee-paying parents have spoken out about how their children are prevented from joining state school pupils in the classroom at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People. Youngsters receiving independent education are excluded from the hospital’s teaching service unless their families or schools pay a fee of £115 per hour, which is over twice the usual rate for supply teachers or home tuition. Edinburgh City Council has written to all independent schools in the capital to remind them of this situation, and is also writing to the Scottish government to ask if it plans to review its guidance on the matter. George Watson’s College has said that it is teaching an Edinburgh City Council pupil free of charge, because the local authority could not provide the subject required. The school's principal, Lisa Kerr, said: "The decision to deny educational support to a sick child in hospital is one that clearly does not have the interests of children at its heart." By Helen Puttick, The Times.

MPs and campaign groups representing the parents of independent school pupils have called on the Charity Commission to investigate the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) over their long-standing policies of charging more for group school bookings made by independent schools. The National Theatre charges £12 per ticket for independent school pupils and £10 for state school pupils, while the RSC charges independent pupils £16.50 and state school pupils £10. A spokesperson for the National Theatre said the discount for state school pupils "is part of our commitment to widening access for young people to world class theatre". They added that the ticket price for independently educated pupils is still "considerably lower than the market rate". Reference is made to data provided by the ISC census, which found around a third of independent school pupils receive financial support. By Pieter Snepvangers, The Telegraph.

Several schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations are mentioned across the weekend's coverage.

At St Edward’s School, Oxford, landline phones are the newest addition in every boarding house, with smartphones becoming a thing of the past. The co-educational school reintroduced the landline phones last September – after 15 years without them – as part of a radical overhaul of its mobile phone rules, which aim to reduce mindless scrolling on smartphones in evenings and at weekends. Between the ages of 13 and 15, boarders may not use a mobile phone, day or night, during the school week. At weekends, they have their phone for only a few hours a day, and must hand it in by 9pm. Speaking to The Sunday Times, the school's warden, Alastair Chirnside, said: "Since we changed the phone policy, we have seen a massive increase in participation. The numbers are phenomenal." Downe House School, an all-girls’ boarding school, has also introduced stricter phone measures, which have reportedly increased reading among pupils. Reflecting on the move, headmistress Emma McKendrick said: "You will quite often see the girls playing board games together, like Bananagrams. There is no question that they read more now, but they also sit and talk more." By Louise Eccles. 

Schools minister Catherine McKinnell has refused to rule out cutting back special educational needs and disability (SEND) tribunals, which many parents rely on to secure support for their children. Ms McKinnell was asked three times by iNews if she would rule out cutting back or abolishing SEND tribunals, and failed to directly address the question on each occasion. The Department for Education has since said that SEND tribunals will not be abolished but has not ruled out the use of them being cut back under a reformed system. Hayley Harding, a parent of two boys with SEND and founder of the campaign group Let Us Learn Too, said the idea of SEND tribunals being reduced was "terrifying". "The tribunal right now is the only area of the SEND system where parents know that laws will be followed and decisions are made solely in the interests of our children’s needs. If this is reduced, parents could find themselves powerless to protect their children," she said. By Connie Dimsdale.

Children are increasingly being drawn into cyberstalking and should be given education on healthy digital relationships, according to safeguarding minister Jess Phillips. Her comments follow a BBC investigation revealing police reports of suspected cyberstalking by children as young as 10 in England. Cyberstalking involves using technology to harass, threaten, or spread falsehoods. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which runs the National Stalking Helpline, said the issue among under-16s remains "significantly under-researched" and underfunded, despite its increasing relevance and impact. By Hannah Karpel and Gerry Georgieva, BBC News.

A record 342,000 UK teenagers started a Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award in the past year, the highest number in its 68-year history. The bronze level, typically started by 14-year-olds, remains the most popular, involving volunteering, physical activities, skill development, and a two-day expedition. The scheme is widely praised for boosting young people's confidence and resilience, and can be particularly helpful for those with special educational needs. To increase participation, the charity secured funding of £7 million to help 462 mainstream state schools and 128 additional needs organisations in England set up the award, and the DofE is now available at 3,568 UK secondary schools. By Yennah Smart, The Sunday 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.