According to research published by the Royal Society, school closures could cost the economy billions in a reduced growth rate, with the loss of learning expected to negatively impact the future skills and earnings potential of current pupils throughout their adult working lives. By Sean Coughlan, BBC News.

Kate Green, the new shadow education secretary, has criticised the Government's approach to schools during the pandemic, warning pupils' life chances could be "significantly compromised" without extra emotional and academic support. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

A new report from the Data Evaluation and Learning for Viral Epidemics group has outlined proposals for how schools can stay open safely. By John Dickens, Schools Week. A separate article in Schools Week highlights other findings from the report, which suggest the attainment gap between the top and lowest-performing pupils in Year 3 has widened by 52 per cent during lockdown. By John Dickens.

Researchers from the University of Southampton have found evidence to suggest pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds could fall a year behind their classmates during the pandemic. By Katie Feehan, The Mail.

The Huffington Post reports on calls for the Government to provide extra funding for school cleaning services, amid concerns headteachers are struggling to make premises COVID-secure ahead of pupils' return in September. By Paul Waugh.

Robert Halfon, chair of the Commons education select committee, has said it is "absolutely vital" that school support staff receive a pay rise for their work during the coronavirus outbreak. By Dave Speck, Tes.

John Swinney, Scotland's education secretary, has said a £50 million funding package will be used to recruit hundreds of teachers and support staff across Scotland ahead of school reopenings. By Florence Snead, iNews. An article in The Times reports a final decision on the reopening of Scotland's schools will be announced next Thursday. By Mark McLaughlin.

According to a survey of nearly 1,800 teachers, 88 per cent report some of their students do not have internet access or the devices needed to engage in online learning. By Claudia Civinini, Tes.

The Telegraph reports schoolchildren up to Year 7 will be among those eligible for a free flu jab this winter, as part of efforts to help the NHS fight a potential second wave of coronavirus. By Gordon Rayner and Laura Donnelly.

The Office for Students has warned students who accept unconditional offers are more likely to miss their predicted A-level grades and drop out of university. By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Dunja Mijatović, human rights commissioner for the Council of Europe, has said misleading information about the contents of sex education is being spread across the continent to 'deliberately scare parents'. By Will Hazell, iNews.

The Department for Education (DfE) has acknowledged the current special educational needs and disability (SEND) system "is not working as well as it should", and has pledged to conduct a large-scale survey of provision across England. By John Roberts, Tes.

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.