Changes to Ofsted inspections "should feel energising” to leaders, Sir Martyn Oliver has said. Addressing the Schools and Academies Show in Birmingham yesterday, the chief inspector told leaders: "I want you to feel comfortable and motivated by the changes. Not anxious, but energised by a system that accounts for the complexity and richness of what happens in your schools every single day." By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Writing in Tes, Lord Hermer KC, the attorney general, reflects on the recent curriculum review and explains he is committed to strengthening the rule of law through education in order to further young people's practical skills and real-world engagement. "The onus is on government and our education system to ensure that all young people feel confident in their ability to take part in our democracy", he says.

Christian-based religious education in Northern Ireland fails to comply with human rights law, a five-strong panel of the Supreme Court has found. The country's most senior judges ruled that the teaching of religious education and collective worship at state schools in the province was not sufficiently "objective" or "critical". The claim was brought by an unnamed female pupil and her father in what their lawyers called a "significant victory for human rights and educational equality". As a result of the findings, the claimant's lawyers said Northern Ireland’s core curriculum will "need to be revised". By Jonathan Ames, The Times.

Half of parents regularly allow their child a day off school if they feel too ­upset to go in, according to a poll by Bett, which organises education technology. Around 75 per cent of the 2,000 families surveyed said they had permitted this at least once, including 49 per cent who regularly let their child have an "emotional absence" and a further 26 per cent who had allowed it once or twice. Most parents reported improved happiness and behaviour when children had regular time away from school, viewing these breaks as a beneficial intervention rather than an indulgence. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. 

Nearly two-thirds of teachers report providing extra support to pupils living in poverty at least once a month, according to a survey conducted by teaching union the NEU. The findings, which were based on over 2,000 responses, have been released today by the Child Poverty Action Group. Some 43 per cent of primary and secondary teachers were found to go beyond their usual educational duties to assist children on a weekly basis. By Kyle Tormey, Tes.

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.