According to The Sunday Times, Ofqual is in the process of drafting contingency plans for next year’s exams, which include asking teachers to assess their pupils’ performance. By Sian Griffiths.

The Times reports headteachers have called on schools minister Nick Gibb to provide a workable strategy for next year’s GCSEs and A-levels by Christmas. By Emma Yeomans and Eleni Courea.

Dr Simon Hyde, general secretary of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), writes to The Times arguing “Ofqual must put fairness to students, rather than reliability at system level, at the centre of everything it does”. The letter can be found a quarter of the way down the page.

Ruth Davies, president of the National Association of Head Teachers, has called on the Government to provide extra financial support for schools to cover the costs incurred during the pandemic, warning: "It's all having to be met from existing funds, which already have gaps." By Donna Ferguson, The Observer.

The Observer reports almost a fifth of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are absent from school due to issues with infection control, timetables and transport. By Chaminda Jayanetti.

The Education Endowment Foundation has announced it will conduct three new studies investigating the impact of school closures on the disadvantage gap. By James Carr, Schools Week.

An article in Schools Week explores how some schools are livestreaming lessons to self-isolating pupils and those who are in another country and unable to return home. By James Carr.

Molly Kingsley, co-founder of the UsForThem campaign group, writes in The Telegraph calling on the Government to “rewrite the schools guidance, this time in consultation with those who have children’s welfare most at heart”.

The Parents’ Voice group in Wales has called for an end to the “postcode lottery” of remote learning, after a study found Wales had the lowest provision of online lessons across the UK when schools were closed during lockdown. By Kate Rimmington, BBC News.

Tes reports World Teachers’ Day this year will focus on the ways teachers have supported pupils in their return to school amid the challenges brought on by the coronavirus outbreak. By Catherine Lough.

Speaking at the HMC conference, Sally-Anne Huang, HMC chair and head of St Paul’s School, is expected to discuss the challenges faced by children and teenagers in 2020, adding: “I for one am tired of hearing the young described as snowflakes.” By Emma Yeomans, The Times. Ms Huang is also expected to talk about the “stereotyping and prejudice” experienced by independent schools, and is set to argue the independent sector can help the country “heal” from the impact of coronavirus. By Will Hazell, iNews.

Beki Martin, executive director of the Facing History and Ourselves UK charity, writes in Tes discussing Black History Month, arguing “every subject educator has a responsibility to both diversify and decolonise what they teach”.

The Sunday Times reports Cheltenham Ladies' College is offering medical support and regular blood testing to its pupils who decide to become vegans, amid concerns the diet can be linked to disordered eating. By Sian Griffiths. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, and Clarissa Farr, a former independent school high mistress.

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.