According to an analysis by Professor Alan Smithers, of the University of Buckingham's Centre for Education and Employment Research, an estimated 75,000 fewer pupils than last year will receive the equivalent of As or A*s this year. By Louisa Clarence-Smith and Daniel Martin, The Telegraph.

Professor Smithers has also suggested that girls are expected to outperform boys in their GCSEs this year as "girls applied themselves more consistently" during lockdown. By Nicola Woolcock and Ben Clatworthy, The Times.

The new report published by Professor Smithers also states that the lack of students taking language GCSEs will lead to the Government's English Baccalaureate targets being "quietly phased out". By Matilda Martin, Tes.

According to The Telegraph, GCSE appeals are expected to reach a record high this year. By Louisa Clarence-Smith. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council (ISC).

ISC chairman Barnaby Lenon has said it is important for grade inflation to come down because inflated grades can lead some pupils "to take courses for which they are inadequately equipped". By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

The Labour Party has called on exam board Pearson to be transparent about the scale of delays to this year's BTEC results, amid concerns some students may have missed out on university places through Clearing. By Steve Robson, iNews.

David Duff, the head of the English Association, has warned the Government must stop prioritising support for STEM subjects to the detriment of others, after English literature fell out of the top 10 subjects chosen for A-level for the first time. By Rhodri Morgan, Tes.

Tes summarises six key insights from this year's A-level results. By Gráinne Hallahan and Dan Worth. The article quotes Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC.

University vice-chancellors have said that an increase in tuition fees is needed to enable higher education institutions to accept more UK applicants. They claim that the £9,250 currently paid by UK students is forcing universities to take on an increasing number of overseas applicants, who pay closer to £24,000 on average per year. By Sian Griffiths, The Sunday Times.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has warned that an increase in tuition fees could deter disadvantaged pupils from applying to university. By Serina Sandhu, iNews.

John Cope, director of strategy at UCAS, has said the Government needs to have a "serious conversation" about how to tackle rising demand for higher education to ensure disadvantaged pupils do not miss out. By Zoe Tidman, The Independent.

A leading article in The Times comments on the challenges some pupils are facing in securing a university place, arguing "the promise of university must be realisable and not just a chimera".

Figures from UCAS show that university deferrals have fallen to a seven-year low. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

The National Union of Students has warned that A-level pupils going to university this year could soon find themselves dropping out because of money troubles. By Chris Bond, iNews.

Anne Longfield, the former children's commissioner, has warned against proposals for schools to move to a three-day week amid rising costs, saying "closing schools must always be a last resort". By Camilla Turner, The Telegraph.

Teachers are being urged to "listen to what children are talking about in school corridors" amid concerns pupils may have been exposed to misogynistic and homophobic social media trends over the summer holidays. By Connie Dimsdale, iNews.

Nick Smith, a former headteacher, writes in The Guardian on the number of school leaders intending to leave their jobs prematurely, arguing "it is vital to entice the very best into school leadership, and to prevent those already in post from heading for the hills".

The Independent reports on claims that funding intended to boost the academic performance of the country's most disadvantaged pupils has been cut in real terms by nearly half a billion pounds in seven years. By Jane Dalton.

The Sunday Times explores how unexpected population shifts leave some urban primary schools short of pupils while those in rural areas struggle with too many. By Tom Calver and Sian Griffiths.

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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