New findings from the Covid Social Mobility and Opportunities Study (Cosmo), led jointly by University College London and the Sutton Trust, have shown that state school pupils are 'twice as likely to feel they have fallen behind than their peers in private schools'. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

According to the findings, 'almost half of young people accessed no catch-up learning during the pandemic', despite extra tutoring being a key part of the Government’s catch-up strategy. Independent schools were 'more likely' to have offered extra tutoring and additional online classes. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

Six key findings from the Cosmo study are highlighted in Schools Week. By Donna Ferguson.

Schools Week reports that some individual independent schools are being investigated for 'malpractice' for allegedly issuing over-inflated teacher grades when exams were cancelled because of Covid. Education leaders have 'urged caution on drawing conclusions'. By John Dickens.

During a House of Lords debate on the issue of children in care, Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), asked what support the Government is giving to charities working to secure places for children at state and independent boarding schools. Lord Lexden said they "greatly enhance the academic prospects of the pupils concerned".

In a debate on the Youth sport trust report, Lord Lexden highlighted the considerable number of sports partnership schemes involving state and independent schools. He asked: "Will the Government encourage a further expansion of these partnership arrangements, which are so valuable, to enable as many pupils as possible to achieve their sporting potential?".

The Telegraph features an interactive tool which provides a breakdown of schools with the highest number of successful Oxbridge applications. Westminster School is ranked in first place with 79 offers in 2021. A number of ISC schools are highlighted.

The prime minister, Liz Truss, has commented on the prospect of a police investigation into Mermaids, the charity supporting transgender and non-binary people, saying "of course those matters should be . . . properly looked at". By Mario Ledwith, The Times.

Schools Week reports that the National Education Union (NEU) will ballot members in sixth form colleges for industrial action, after 85 per cent of those who responded to an indicative poll supported strike action. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner, would like to see “underused space” in primary schools with falling rolls utilised by the early years childcare sector. In her report, 'Vision for childcare', Dame de Souza also called for an extended school day for older children in order to address gaps in provision. By Freddie Whittaker, Schools Week.

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