According to iNews, headteachers could be asked to extend the school day with extra-curricular activities, as education secretary Gavin Williamson pushes for more catch-up funding. By Hugo Gye.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has defended his decision to reject the £15 billion education recovery package put forward by Sir Kevan Collins, saying: "No responsible chancellor could just say yes to everybody who comes knocking". By Nicola Woolcock, The Times.

A YouGov poll for The Times Education Commission has found that 60 per cent of adults support the idea of the school day being lengthened by half an hour to help children catch up on their learning. By Nicola Woolcock and Rachel Sylvester, The Times.

Survey findings suggest one in 10 schools are still not operating a full timetable, prompting concerns about the impact on children who have lost learning, time with friends and extra-curricular activities. By Sian Griffiths and Caroline Wheeler, The Sunday Times.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has urged secondary school pupils and their families to continue taking regular COVID tests at home, after a group of academics called for them to be suspended. By Charlie Moloney, The Times.

Robert Halfon, chairman of the Education Select Committee, and Siobhain McDonagh, a Labour MP, write in The Times calling on the Government to "use the lessons of COVID-19 to recognise, prioritise, and end digital exclusion".

Geraldine Maidment, headteacher at Annemount School, writes to The Times urging the Government to lift coronavirus restrictions on pupils' end-of-term events "so that the efforts that every child has made to reach their goal can be appropriately acknowledged by those who love them most". The letter is the fourth featured on the page.

According to figures from the Department for Education, the number of pupils at independent schools has dropped by 1.3 per cent since last year, as the pandemic has led to families "tightening their purse strings". By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

The Guardian explores how some headteachers are planning to say goodbye to school leavers this year amid the COVID disruption. By Sally Weale.

Steve Munby, chair of The Teaching Awards Trust, writes in Tes ahead of Thank a Teacher Day, stating that showing appreciation for school staff is 'more important than ever' this year.

Speaking to iNews, a number of teachers reflect on the impact of this year's grading system on their workload and mental health, with some describing the process as "draining" and "soul destroying". By Will Hazell.

According to a survey by the Social Mobility Foundation, 52 per cent of disadvantaged pupils think they will be unable to appeal against their grades, and 38 per cent are not confident their grades will reflect their ability. BBC News.

The Times interviews Jane Lunnon, head of Alleyn's School, who discusses the importance of talking about sexual harassment, porn, and rape culture in light of the testimonies shared to the Everyone's Invited website. By Alice Thomson.

Writing for The Daily Express, Mrs Lunnon suggests a mobile phone ban in schools could help to encourage "mutual respect and kindness for all".

The LGBT charity Stonewall has published guidance for schools advising them to 'avoid dividing learners by gender, whether in the classroom or through uniform, sports activities or other aspects of school life'. By Ewan Somerville and Hayley Dixon, The Telegraph.

St Paul's Girls' School has announced it will rename the role of head girl to "head of school" from the next academic year, after calls from pupils to make the title more inclusive. By Lucy Bannerman, The Times. The article quotes Sarah Fletcher, high mistress at the school, and Helen Semple, the school's deputy head.

The Sunday Times reports a growing number of schools in Scotland are replacing the traditional titles of head boy and head girl with "non-binary" terms. By John Boothman. The article mentions The Mary Erskine School and George Watson's College.

Bilton Grange Preparatory School is thought to be the first prep school to start an independent chorister programme, with plans to recruit choristers of both sexes from September. By Nicola Woolcock, The Times. The article quotes Peter Green, executive headmaster of the Rugby School Group, and mentions several other schools in membership of the ISC's constituent associations.

The Sunday Times reports Secta Finance, a financial technology business, will allow people to take out a loan secured against their property to fund their children's independent school fees. By Katherine Griffiths and David Byers.

Professor Stuart Foster, executive director of University College London's Centre for Holocaust Education, has warned that teachers educating younger children about the Holocaust are having to "soften" their approach, therefore "shielding" them from some of the complexities. By Camilla Turner, 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.

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