Pupils at state schools are almost three times more likely to have their lessons disrupted by poor behaviour than their independently educated peers, according to the findings of a widespread survey by Parentkind. The UK's largest parent charity questioned almost 6,000 parents of school-aged children and found that 30 per cent of parents of state school children said bad behaviour had interrupted lessons, compared with 11 per cent at independent schools. Overall, the poll showed greater satisfaction among independent school parents, particularly among families whose children have additional needs. Those with children at independent schools were also found to be more likely to seek extra time in exams and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) assessments, often funding independent reports themselves. Reference is made to ministers' plans to reform SEND provision as well as the government's VAT on fees policy. Speaking to The Times, Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), said: "Parents will always want to find the right school for their child. Those who choose independent schools do so for a variety of reasons, whether it be excellent academic results, alternative curricula or tailored SEND support. These survey results show that these options resonate with the families that choose them." A live poll invites readers to vote on what they think is more important at secondary school: learning skills or passing exams. By Nicola Woolcock and George Willoughby. 

Ofsted is to go ahead with the introduction of its new inspection system in November, including a colour-coded report card for parents, despite widespread opposition from education leaders and unions. An "exceptional" judgment will become the highest of five grades to be awarded across six different inspection areas, as part of the overhaul. However, headteachers and union leaders have said the new inspection framework was "even worse" than the current system. Describing his concerns, Pepe Di’Iasio, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "Let’s remember that this entire process began with the suicide of a headteacher under the previous inspection system. Yet here we are with a reformed system which appears to be even worse." By Sally Weale, The Guardian. Connie Dimsdale for iNews, Stephanie Wareham for The Independent, John Roberts and Cerys Turner for Tes, and Freddie Whittaker for Schools Week all outline the key inspection changes, which include renamed headline grades, fewer inspection areas and plans to increase team sizes. 

The inspectorate's new report cards will generate more anxiety for leaders with already "concerningly high" stress levels, a wellbeing impact report has warned. Sinéad McBrearty, CEO of the charity Education Support, was asked by Ofsted to conduct the review as part of its proposed report card reforms. Published today, the report says leader anxiety and stress will "in many (though not all) cases, spillover and increase pressure on staff teams to perform well in inspection". By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week. 

Demand among students wanting to study Mandarin in UK schools outstrips supply by seven to one, the British Council has warned. In a report published today, the organisation says thousands of young people are missing out on Chinese language and cultural education due to a significant gap between student interest and access. While 37 per cent of UK students might be interested in taking Mandarin if it were available, only five per cent currently can, the findings show. Over the past decade, entries for Mandarin GCSE have more than doubled, and independent school students account for a third of entries in England. By John Roberts, Tes. 

White working-class families are most likely to be fined for taking their children out of school to go on holiday during term time, analysis by The Telegraph has found. Official education figures, alongside ethnicity statistics from the most recent 2021 census, indicate that the local authorities issuing the highest number of fines for parents taking children out of school for holidays tend to have a majority-white population. Experts have claimed that these families are also predominantly working-class. The paper also reports that more parents than ever are being fined for taking their children out of school for a holiday, with a record 443,322 fines issued in England for unauthorised term-time absences in the 2023/24 school year. By Gabriella Swerling and Greg Dickinson. 

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