Year 9 pupils at Queen's College in Taunton have been putting their design technology skills to practical use through a project aimed at improving the life of a local wheelchair user.

The initiative, titled Make a Difference, was devised by head of design technology Mr Higgs and challenged pupils to develop products that could address real-world problems. To support their work, pupils met Stanley, a local wheelchair user, photographer, beekeeper and small business owner, who shared some of the everyday challenges he faces.

Drawing on Stanley's experiences, pupils followed the full design process, from research and idea generation to prototyping and manufacture. Their final designs included an LED number plate to improve visibility, a honeycomb-inspired bottle holder and an adjustable phone mount to support photography.

Reflecting on the project, Mr Higgs said: "The pupils really embraced the challenge. What stood out was how much they cared."

Several of the products are now being used by Stanley in his daily life, demonstrating the project's lasting impact and highlighting how creativity and technical skills can be used to make a meaningful difference to others.

If you have a good news story you would like to share with us, please email [email protected] to be considered for inclusion next term.

In an article for iNews, freelance writer Ellie Fennell shares her personal experience of the impact of the VAT on fees policy. Although her 10-year-old daughter's independent school has not been forced to close, Ms Fennell describes it as an "extraordinarily difficult situation", and says "the reality is dawning that the school we originally chose is fundamentally changing". Reflecting on the wider effects of the policy, she adds: "The unintended consequences of introducing VAT on school fees reach far beyond Treasury forecasts and enrolment statistics. The unrest has left children wondering where they belong, parents questioning their choices and school communities changed beyond recognition." 

Galaxy Global Education Group, which has closed three independent schools in a matter of months, "raises clear national security concerns", ministers have been warned. The firm acquired Ruthin School, Durham High School and Malvern St James in the last four years but has claimed that growing financial pressures, including Labour's VAT on fees policy, mean they are no longer financially sustainable. Following the closures of Ruthin School and Durham High, which were announced this week, shadow education minister Saqib Bhatti has written to Bridget Phillipson, urging her to conduct a review of schools owned by Galaxy Global. In his letter to the education secretary, Mr Bhatti said: "There are clear national security concerns here, yet there is currently little to no data or analysis on the true extent of Chinese investment in our independent schools." By Albert Tait, The Telegraph.

White British students are now a minority in grammar schools, analysis by The Telegraph has revealed. Their numbers have fallen by more than a fifth (21.6 per cent) in the past 10 years as grammar schools recruit growing numbers of ethnic minority pupils. This year, white British children comprised 46 per cent of all pupils at English grammar schools, compared to 66.8 per cent in 2016, according to the analysis of Department for Education data. It comes as a recent inquiry report found that white working-class children were some of the most disadvantaged and underachieving in English schools. Sir Hamid Patel, the co-chairman of the inquiry, said The Telegraph's analysis showed that white working-class children were facing barriers, which "may also be limiting access to some of the country's highest-performing schools". By Albert Tait and Ben Butcher. 

Richard Hermer, the attorney general, has told Tes he would "not judge for a moment the decisions of teachers and heads" but that "schools, as with government and indeed with politicians, have difficult decisions to make in terms of whether or not they want to remain on a platform like X". Speaking exclusively to the paper as he launched free rule of law lesson plans for every school in England and Wales, Lord Hermer, the government's chief legal adviser, also addressed the social media ban for under-16s, set to come in from spring 2027. By Cerys Turner.

Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister, wants all children up and ready for school on Monday morning regardless of the England game being played at 1am UK time. Asked if youngsters should stay up to watch the match against Mexico, his spokesperson said: "It is up to parents to make their own decisions. We want everyone to enjoy the game but children should be at school on Monday." By Helena Horton and Jessica Elgot, The Guardian. 

England manager Thomas Tuchel has urged parents to allow their children to stay up for the match, arguing the competition only comes around every four years and even suggesting they write absence notes if needed. The Times speaks to school leaders and experts, who discuss the debate over balancing a unique sporting experience against the impact of sleep loss and school attendance. The paper notes that Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has repeatedly insisted missing even one day of school has an effect on a child's learning. By Nicola Woolcock and Eleanor Hayward.

A number of primary schools have said pupils can arrive two hours late on Monday morning. The schools, run by the same multi-academy trust, posted on social media that they would give families "the opportunity to enjoy the occasion without worrying about the school run quite so early". By Albert Tait, 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.