For this week’s Friday Feature, we are celebrating young artists from Yarm School whose work is bringing colour and calm to the University Hospital of North Tees. Paintings and mixed-media collages, curated by the school's former head of art Liz Stebbings in collaboration with the University Hospitals Tees arts council, have been installed across wards and communal areas to create a welcoming, soothing environment.

A recent celebration event brought together students, parents and NHS staff to showcase the artwork. Former A‑level pupil Poppy Stephens contributed pieces documenting her grandfather’s experience of living with dementia, which are now being used as a teaching aid for medical teams. Highlighting the growing evidence that art and design helps improve individuals' health and wellbeing, Professor Derek Bell OBE, Chair for University Hospitals Tees, said: "Art can help create connection, change thinking, and help with healing. To finally see this project come together is special, and I am grateful to the pupils and staff at Yarm School who have helped make it happen." For further information on the initiative, please click here.

If your school has a positive story to share for our Friday Feature, please email [email protected].

Barnaby Lenon, former chairman of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), has said that anti-independent school rhetoric has led to a brain drain of Oxbridge candidates to American universities, after Cambridge college Trinity Hall warned against “crude” diversity measures. Speaking to The Times, Mr Lenon, former head of Harrow School and now dean of education at Buckingham University, said it has been "worrying" that Oxford and Cambridge have focused on recruiting state school pupils to the detriment of those at independent schools, which put some courses at risk. "It might have been a reasonable policy [to increase state school numbers] but they haven’t expanded undergraduate numbers. It does mean that bright independent school students are getting the impression they aren’t really welcome. That’s why so many now go to the United States, where they are really welcomed. It has encouraged a brain drain from the UK to the US", he added. By Nicola Woolcock. 

In an article for The Telegraph, Lawrence Goldman, a professor who taught history at St Peter’s College, Oxford, asks: "What is the point of the best universities if they don’t seek out the very best students from any and every background?" Professor Goldman says it is "hardly surprising that Trinity Hall is once again seeking the best students from wherever", and concludes: "Expect more colleges to follow their lead silently."

Accountability and better support for parents have been "consistent themes" emerging from special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) "conversations", Georgia Gould has told Schools Week. Emphasising the sector that feedback would be reflected in upcoming government reforms, the schools minister said the listening sessions, dubbed by the Department for Education as the "biggest national conversation on SEND in a generation", have "really shaped our thinking" on the white paper, which is set to be released in the coming weeks. By Ruth Lucas.

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU teaching union, has warned of strike action if teachers lose their right to directed time under forthcoming government reforms. Under ministers’ plans, schools would be required to ensure every child has access to activities across five categories, but many teachers have said they would not be willing to take on additional duties without extra pay. Speaking exclusively to Tes, Mr Kebede also said he was worried by reports that the government could make major changes to education, health and care plans (EHCPs), warning: "I’m concerned that the government will make changes that are quite sweeping around EHCPs without building that inclusive education system first." By Cerys Turner.

Writing in Tes, Nick Page, head of Wetherby Pembridge, explains how he juggles teaching in class with his many other responsibilities, and the benefits it brings to his leadership. "By keeping your foot in the classroom, you can more easily keep abreast of the different tools and technology that teachers are using on a daily basis", he says. An Inspired school, Wetherby Pembridge is built on the academic foundations of the Wetherby and Pembridge Hall schools. 

The annual Council of British International Schools (COBIS) research report has been published, providing a snapshot of the latest trends, issues and areas of development within international schools worldwide. In its survey, 18 per cent of international school respondents reported interest from families as a result of the government's VAT on fees policy. Tes outlines five key areas of interest from the report, which is based on a detailed survey of 180 member schools from across five continents and 64 countries. By Dan Worth.

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