The Times has published a range of articles today as part of its Education Summit, which comes a year after the conclusion of the Times Education Commission.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson addressed the summit yesterday, saying Labour will make state schools more attractive to middle-class parents priced out of independent education, with additional focus on debating, arts, music and drama. An ISC spokesperson is quoted, saying: “Independent schools have been working hard to keep fees affordable for parents." Urging Labour not to penalise parents by "putting a tax on school choice", they added: "Labour should work with independent schools to build on the many arts, debating, sports, music and drama partnerships and projects already being run with state schools.” By Nicola Woolcock.

Schools should embrace the power of technology in their efforts to keep pace with developments in artificial intelligence (AI), according to former Conservative party leader William Hague, who said the government is moving too slowly to react to “the most transformative moment in education since the printing press”. By Mark Sellman.

Commenting on the status of Oxbridge, universities minister Robert Halfon told the summit that society should be championing the achievements of smaller colleges and institutions. By Nicola Woolcock.

New school workforce data suggests nearly 40,000 teachers (8.8 per cent of the sector) left state schools for reasons other than retirement in the 2021-22 academic year, up 7,800 on the previous year. By Amy Walker, Schools Week.

The workforce figures also reveal a 60 per cent rise in teacher sick days and record vacancies in England last year, with the average number of sick days taken by all teachers rising to 6.3 days in 2021-22, up from 3.9 days in the previous year. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said real-term pay cuts, heavy workloads and the impact of “high stakes inspection and accountability measures” were behind teachers leaving the profession. By Louisa Clarence-Smith and Ben Butcher, The Telegraph.

New figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats and shared exclusively with The Guardian suggest only a quarter of English primaries will be able to offer vital school-based support by the end of next year, with ministers accused of failing to grasp the “tidal wave” of mental ill health affecting children’s lives. By Sally Weale, The Guardian.

Children's commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza is calling for nicotine-free vapes to be banned for under-18s, as she urges the government to address the trend that is spreading in schools. By James Beal, The Times.

The Economist takes a closer look at the value of independent schools and the appeal of American universities. Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, is quoted on the increasing popularity of America as a destination for school leavers from independent schools. Mr Lenon says that while American universities require top grades, they also "value non-academic achievements, such as those obtained through extra-curricular activities of a kind that private schools try hard to provide".

Maksym Gavrylenko, a Ukranian pupil who attends Lomond School, has made a ‘substantial’ sum after selling the Minecraft server he ran from his bedroom, which has enabled him to afford to buy a house for his homeless mother. By Dan Barker, The Independent.

The Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) has appointed Lorraine Davidson, head of education strategy at the Scottish government, as its new chief executive to succeed John Edward. Ms Davidson, who is described by SCIS as “highly adept in strategy development, corporate communication and crisis management”, will start in July. By Henry Hepburn, Tes.

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