Ofsted regional directors have warned the impact of the pandemic on school attendance levels has 'completely disrupted' learning in some areas. By Hannah Richardson, BBC News.

An article in Tes reports Ofsted inspectors will assess schools' remote learning provision when full inspections resume. By John Roberts.

According to The Telegraph, new research due to be published today will show the number of under-18s participating in physical activity has dropped from 60 per cent in April to below 25 per cent in September. By Jeremy Wilson.

John Jones, director of innovation at RGS Worcester, writes in Tes arguing the debate over which online platform is best for remote learning should instead "focus on the pedagogy and instructional design behind the lessons".

Vivienne Durham, chief executive of the Girls' Schools Association, reflects on the past year and considers what the future of education could look like for schools, pupils and parents in Attain's Fresh Thinking podcast.

Schools Week highlights key findings from the National Audit Office's investigation into the Department for Education's free school meal voucher scheme. By John Dickens.

Findings from an online survey suggest 40 per cent of Scottish adults value primary and secondary school teachers more than they did before the pandemic. By Emma Seith, Tes.

Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association, submitted a written question asking the Government what assessment it had made of the ISC's Partnerships Week 2020. In response, Baroness Berridge praised the event, adding: "Partnerships Week and other forms of promotion, such as the ISC's recently published Celebrating Partnerships booklet, are key to ensuring that more schools hear about the good work already happening in this field and encourage more to join."

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted's chief inspector, has said teaching about climate change in schools should be grounded in science, otherwise it risks becoming "a sort of morality tale or something quasi-religious". By Will Hazell, iNews.

Addressing the Education Select Committee yesterday, Edward Davies, director of policy at the Centre for Social Justice think tank, suggested marriage rates could play a role in the educational outcomes of white working class pupils. By Lizzie Roberts, The Telegraph.

The NHS has confirmed children suffering with gender dysmorphia will need a court order before they are legally allowed to take puberty blockers, after the High Court ruled they should not receive the drugs unless they understand the "long-term risks and consequences". By Gabriella Swerling, 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.