In a letter to The Times, Mark Steed, former principal and chief executive of Berkhamsted and Stamford Schools, says independent schools are an overlooked contributor to the UK's international standing, with former pupils around the world helping to foster long-term links with Britain. Highlighting the sector's expanding overseas presence, he urges ministers to recognise their vital role, saying: "Independent schools remain on the front line of promoting Britain. Yet rather than seeing these institutions as a national asset, their value and importance seem lost on a government that is blinded by the politics of envy and class war."
The letter appears halfway down the page.

Writing in Tes, Charli Faux, subject lead for PSHE and school mental health lead at Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School in Hertfordshire, says the government's updated relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) guidance should prompt schools to look beyond online safety and address the role of television and popular culture in shaping young people's views of relationships. "We need to teach young people to consume entertainment through a more critical lens. The updated RSHE guidance and updated Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) framework provide the tools to do this", she explains.

Prime minister Andy Burnham has vowed to "rebuild a comprehensive education system" to establish parity between academic and technical education. Addressing delegates at the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool yesterday, Mr Burnham said too many young people had been "cast adrift" by an education system "overly focused on the university route". He outlined some of the government's plans, which include a 45-day work placement for students aged 16-18, apprenticeship opportunities for 18-year-olds and shorter wait times for mental health support. By Jabed Ahmed and John Roberts, Tes.

Sure Start-style health services will be extended to all family hubs in England under plans to be announced by Yvette Cooper, the health secretary. Ms Cooper will present the move at the party's conference today as restoring the principles behind one of Labour's flagship programmes. Parents will receive help with infant feeding, mental health and bonding with their babies, in addition to health visits and midwifery support. By Laura Donnelly, The Telegraph.

Cases of antisemitism experienced by university students and staff in the UK increased in the last academic year, according to data from the Community Security Trust. The charity, which monitors antisemitic incidents, said it had recorded 95 "university-related" incidents in the 2025-26 academic year, up from 83 the previous year. Lucy Powell, education secretary in England, said the findings in the CST report were "deeply troubling". By Hazel Shearing, BBC News. 

In an article for School Management Plus, Margaret Mulholland, director of programmes and research at the School Partnerships Alliance (S.P.A.), discusses her recent paper on the role of school sports partnerships in widening access to sporting opportunities for young people. Drawing on examples from Norwich School, Royal Grammar School in Newcastle and Harrow School, she says collaboration between schools and community organisations can improve inclusion, develop life skills and expand access to activities ranging from disability sport to swimming and rugby. "Levelling the playing field doesn't mean making every school the same, it means offering every young person the opportunity to experience, enjoy and grow through sport", Ms Mulholland says, before concluding: "This can be achieved when schools recognise that their greatest impact is not what they can do alone, but what they can achieve together."

The S.P.A.'s papers can be read here: Towards levelling the playing field? Cross-Sector Partnerships and School Sport Inequality, Cross-Sector School Sports Partnerships Report and Cross-Sector School Sports Partnerships Report Impact summary. 

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