Universities have collectively reported more than 12,000 job cuts in the last year, new analysis from the University and College Union (UCU) suggests. Additional cost savings undertaken in the same period are equivalent to a further 3,000 jobs, the union claims, but universities have not confirmed whether these savings will be made by cutting staff. UCU members will vote on potential UK-wide strike action later this month over a 1.4 per cent pay proposal made during the summer. According to the Office for Students, four in 10 English universities are now believed to be in financial deficit. By Hayley Clarke and Emily Doughty, BBC News.

Headteachers have criticised the government's decision to pull funding for the International Baccalaureate (IB) from state schools. The Times reports that schools offering the diploma programme receive around £2,400 more per pupil to deliver the IB, but a letter sent to schools last week states such funds will not be provided from the next academic year. Instead, it will be "reprioritised" for pupils taking four or more A levels including maths, further maths and a science or design technology. In a letter to the paper, Jesse Elzinga, head of Sevenoaks School where the IB is offered instead of A levels, warns: "The decision, announced last week without consultation or warning, shrinks opportunity and ambition for thousands of young people." Praising the programme's "transformative impact", he notes that the IB has "remained a stable, politically independent framework for more than five decades". Echoing Mr Elzinga's concerns, Gareth Parker-Jones, head of Rugby School, says: "Sadly, the government’s slashing of funding for the IB in state schools is a further example of its drive to reductive beige uniformity in education." By Nicola Woolcock. Mr Elzinga's letter appears below halfway.

Writing in The Spectator, English teacher, private tutor and journalist Kristina Murkett says cutting IB funding suggests "Labour is determined to ensure that choice in education is only for those who can afford it". Warning that the move will effectively limit the IB to independent schools, Ms Murkett references the government's VAT on fees policy before concluding: "This one-size-fits-all approach will not only erode standards (by insisting that the best of our schools must be levelled down), but also parental choice. In the name of equality we must apparently be the enemy of excellence, but it will be increasingly hard for parents to find it."

An education partnership event was held at Thorpe Park earlier this week with the aim of helping children to improve their career prospects in the science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) sectors. The event, which was hosted by ACS International Schools, welcomed 10,000 students from 87 schools across Surrey, Kent, London, Essex and Berkshire. Speaking to BBC News, ACS International Schools' partnerships events manager Jen Baker said skills gaps in the STEAM sectors cost the UK economy about £1.5 billion annually in lost productivity and unfilled roles. On the importance of events such as this one, she added: "We're showing students how to translate skills into real careers and opportunities." By Hsin-Yi Lo, BBC News.

Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Sheffield are making round trips of up to 50 miles to attend schools in different areas, according to council data. The furthest distance travelled by one pupil is 117 miles to a residential school where they are dropped off by a taxi on Monday and collected on Friday. Warren Carratt, CEO of Nexus Multi-Academy Trust which runs 16 SEND schools in South Yorkshire, said parents were "wrestling with a wicked issue" as some young people have to travel for up to an hour-and-a-half. Mr Carratt cited neglected SEND funding and councils lacking money for transport as the conditions for a "perfect storm". By Lucy Ashton, BBC News.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils reaching the government’s "expected standard" in their Year 1 phonics screening test has fallen this year, as overall progress since the pandemic has stalled. Published today, official data shows 67 per cent of disadvantaged pupils taking the test for the first time met the standard this year, compared with 68 per cent in 2024. Overall, 80 per cent of pupils successfully passed the test in Year 1, the same figure reported last year. Achievement rates are still below pre-pandemic levels. By Ruth Lucas, Schools Week. 

Girls with multiple characteristics of inequality are much less likely to do physical activity every day, a survey by the Youth Sport Trust has found. The charity said girls with two or more characteristics – such as being from a low-income family, having special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), or being black or Asian – are significantly more likely not to be physically active every day. The survey of 17,971 young people across 137 schools found girls with two characteristics of inequality or more were also more likely than their peers not to feel confident doing physical activity and not enjoy participating in school PE or physical activities. By Jasmine Norden, The Independent. 

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.