The Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds MP, has given his first major speech on social mobility, promising to tackle the "scandal" that some children are starting school unable to speak properly or read simple words. By Hannah Richardson, BBC News.

There is widespread coverage on this story.

Schools Week details the key findings from the Department for Education's recent survey which analyses the progress of vulnerable school leavers in the labour market by the age of 27. By Jess Staufenberg.

Direct instruction, a fast-paced teaching method which uses highly structured lessons, has been shown to have a positive effect on learning following decades of research. By Helen Ward, Tes.

The charity Barnardo’s has warned that children as young as five are beginning to 'perpetrate sexual abuse' because of what they have viewed on social media. By Laura Donnelly, The Telegraph.

Ahead of A-level results day, The Telegraph advises pupils on a number of different topics including collecting results, sorting accommodation, understanding Clearing, and detailing how Adjustment works.

Divorce lawyer, Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia, has urged schools to teach children about marriage. By Frances Gibb, The Times.

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.