An editorial in today's Telegraph View argues that education secretary Bridget Phillipson’s policies are damaging both independent and state education, pointing to the imposition of VAT on school fees, the closure of the Latin Excellence Programme, and measures that restrict the growth of free schools. Commenting on the decision to scrap a planned free sixth form college in Middlesbrough, which had been intended for high-achieving pupils from deprived backgrounds, the item says: "Labour have consistently – and correctly – argued that opportunity is too thinly spread in this country... Yet when the party has a chance to actually change that, it sacrifices working-class children on the altar of equality."

Sir Ian Bauckham, chief of Ofqual, told MPs yesterday that he had advised the Department for Education of his "anxiety" regarding pupils using artificial intelligence (AI) for extended writing in high-level qualifications. Appearing before the Commons Education Select Committee, Sir Ian said that the coursework element of qualifications such as A-level English and history was vulnerable to AI malpractice. However, he also noted the potential for exam boards to benefit from AI, and said it could make exams "more secure". By Kyle Tormey, Tes.

Writing in School Management Plus, Jack Dougall, a secondary school humanities teacher at The British School of Gran Canaria, warns that schools cannot afford to wait for governments to take action on some of the easily accessible AI tools, such as therapy chatbots. Mr Dougall also highlights the risks posed by deepfakes, and says many adults and most teenagers are not aware that resharing them can itself be a criminal offence. Urging schools to act, he writes: "Do not look to governments. Do not expect profit-driven AI companies to police themselves."

The government and the National Literacy Trust have together launched the National Year of Reading, which is being backed by individuals including Leah Williamson and Richard Osman. Unveiled yesterday at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium as part of a year-long campaign, Go All In aims to tackle a "worrying decline" in reading for pleasure among children and young people. It brings together schools, families, libraries and cultural organisations, and builds on existing government measures that include a new mandatory reading test for all pupils in Year 8. By Emma Loffhagen, The Guardian.

Midwives should highlight the dangers of childhood screen use during pregnancy because the decline in speech and language development has become a "public health emergency", according to experts who warn that parents are being bombarded with mixed messages about screen use. Citing mounting evidence of children struggling not only developmentally but physically due to excessive or unstructured screen time, Arabella Skinner, head of policy at the Health Professionals for Safer Screens campaign group, told The Times: "We think midwives and health visitors are absolutely key. By the time you’ve got to school, it’s almost too late." By Georgia Lambert.

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