Writing in Tes, David Tuck, head of history and politics at Harrow International School Hong Kong, says filming brief, simple videos of pupils' spoken analysis can be a great way to help them refine their oracy skills. Describing the impact of strengthening his school's own practice using the Cambridge Oracy Skills Framework, he writes: "The oracy tasks have enriched our classroom practice by giving students more varied ways to think and explain their ideas, which has really suited those who prefer to verbalise their thinking."

Bridget Phillipson will write to headteachers today telling them all schools should be phone-free for the entire day, effectively banning their use for quizzes during classes. Pupils should not have phones at break times or use them as calculators, with the education secretary adding that ministers want to provide clarity so leaders can "hold those boundaries". In the letter, shared with The Times, Ms Phillipson said: "Schools should make sure those policies are applied consistently across classes and at all times and we want parents to back these policies too." Speaking to the paper, Dominic Mott, head of Hurstpierpoint College, said banning smartphones in schools brings far more advantages than disadvantages and called for children to be offered positive and engaging alternatives to screen time, adding: "Most parents are unable or unwilling to fight this battle alone, and need strong, clear guidance from central government and from schools themselves." The Times is running a live poll, asking readers to vote on whether all schools should be phone-free. By Nicola Woolcock. The item is also covered by BBC News, which includes reactions from teaching unions. Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the letter would provide clarity for schools and families, and that he hoped it would be the first step towards the overall ban on social media for under-16s. By Nathan Standley.

Rendcomb College near Cirencester, which opened in 1920, has announced it will close at the end of the academic year as a result of financial issues. A spokesperson for the school said the reality is that current and projected pupil numbers do not make it financially viable in the future. They said leaders had looked into "every other feasible option" including mergers and other forms of funding, and will now focus on supporting its pupils in finding places at other schools, and finding roles elsewhere for its staff. By Maisie Lillywhite and Esme Ashcroft, BBC News. The item is also reported in The Telegraph, which quotes Christian San José, headmaster at nearby Wycliffe College, who said his school was "in a position to be able to offer places in all year groups" to Rendcomb College pupils. By Maya Wilson Autzen.

The Times looks at some of the British independent schools that are opening overseas branches in Nigeria, after ministers last week unveiled their new international education strategy stating that independent schools and universities should open more offshoots abroad. Reference is made to a letter published in the paper from Gareth Parker-Jones, head of Rugby School, who said it is "farcical" that the government is seeking to promote British schools abroad while taxing them at home. A number of schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations are mentioned. By Nicola Woolcock.

In an article for Tes, former independent head Simon Larter-Evans reflects on the impact of the VAT on fees policy, "an inevitability" once Labour came to power. The article references data from the ISC.

A number of readers write to The Times describing the personal and cultural impact of the VAT on fees policy, from family disruption to the loss of historic institutions. Anthony Millard, a former headmaster and chairman of the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA), says he is "well aware of the damage to independent schools caused by the government’s actions", but it has "become personal" after his grandson's school, Rendcomb College, announced it is to close. He warns that the tax will hit smaller boarding schools that cannot absorb extra costs or expand overseas, and calls ministers’ advice to open abroad "rank hypocrisy", adding that it risks making independent education "more elitist and divisive". Hugh Brass from Rendcomb argues that by taxing school fees, the government is destroying long-established centres of educational and cultural excellence, citing Exeter Cathedral School as a "victim of the VAT raid". The letters appear above halfway.

The Telegraph also features letters from readers highlighting the effect of the VAT on fees policy, and other financial challenges, on independent and cathedral choir schools. Very Rev Dr Edward Dowler, dean of Chichester Cathedral, says cathedral music traditions are at risk unless action is taken to support them. "Without relief from VAT… more places will face the same agonising future as Exeter," he says. Echoing his concerns, Professor Robert Barrington of the University of Sussex calls for a church-led team to provide guidance because "each choir school is fighting a lone struggle, and the risk is that they will be picked off by a combination of market forces, the unintended consequences of government policies, such as the application of VAT to fees". Brian Pegnall from Falmouth criticises the wider impact of VAT on independent schools and asks how many children with special needs and disabilities (SEND) have been negatively affected by it. "It would be instructive to know just how much of the £1.5 billion promised has been gathered by the Treasury, how many schools have had to close, whether the 6,500 teachers expected for the public sector have actually materialised," he adds. The letters appear halfway down the page.

Children with SEND are set to be allocated new "digital passports" and designated into a four-tiered system as part of widespread reforms to the sector, iNews has learned. Education, health and care plans (EHCPs) are also expected to be reserved for those whose needs cannot be met via the four tiers. Sources close to the reforms told the paper that all children with additional needs will be given an "individual support passport", which will be a digital document making their needs accessible at every stage of education, from early years to sixth form. However, it is unclear whether children with existing EHCPs will keep them under the proposed changes, with ministers previously saying that only "effective" existing support would be protected. By Connie Dimsdale and Richard Vaughan.

Speaking to iNews, Alan Courtney, a father of two children with SEND, said he fears his son would be "lost through the cracks" if the support he receives at school is removed under Labour's reform plans. "The fear amongst a lot of parents would be the additional time it might take to get the provision that your kid needs." There’s already a significant wait time for everything, he said, adding that the question would be "whether or not the tiered system would fulfil any of his [son's] needs". By Kyriakos Petrakos.

Sir Keir Starmer has told Labour MPs his teenage children have benefited from using social media apps, as he assesses whether to introduce a ban for under-16s. The prime minister privately said in recent weeks that he was reluctant to support an Australian-style ban because he believed social media had educational and social value. He told MPs his son and daughter had used social media to find valuable learning tools online, and that it had allowed them to remain connected to friends. The government began a three-month consultation last week into whether to ban social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok for under-16s. By Stefan Boscia and Max Kendix, The Times.

Bereaved families have criticised the prime minister for delaying a decision on a social media ban for under-16s. Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, said it was "not enough" for Sir Keir to suggest that an Australia-style social media ban was merely one option being considered by the government. In a letter sent to the prime minister on Saturday, signed by dozens of other campaigners, Ms Ghey said: "Consultation is not action, it is delay, and while we wait, parents and teachers continue to struggle to protect young people and children are being harmed." By Poppy Wood, The Telegraph.

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.