A group of education leaders from the state and independent sectors have warned of the “very real and present hazards and dangers” presented by artificial intelligence (AI). In a letter to The Times, the coalition, led by Sir Anthony Seldon, the head of Epsom College, describe AI as "the greatest threat but also potentially the greatest benefit to our students, staff and schools". Warning that the technology is moving "far too quickly" for the government to provide the guidance schools need, the group has announced the launch of a cross-sector body to advise schools on AI developments. By Nicola Woolcock. The Times.

Sir Anthony Seldon has warned of the risks of plagiarism and deepfakes, adding that human teaching must be at the "heart of schools". By Ted Hennessey, The Independent.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), was interviewed by Cathy Newman on Times Radio following the publication of the 2023 ISC Census. On the subject of fee rises, which largely reflect government levels of wage inflation, Ms Robinson highlighted the cost pressures schools are facing – with some seeing their energy bills increase tenfold. The chief executive also explained how schools are supporting families through increasing fee assistance, which has risen to more than £1 billion this year. Referencing Labour’s pledge to add VAT to school fees, Ms Robinson said: “Everyone wants properly funded state schools, absolutely - but the disruption caused by this policy simply wouldn’t be worth the raising of a small amount of money.” The interview begins at 1:27:58.

A 6.5 per cent salary increase has been recommended by the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB), with the National Education Union (NEU) responding that if the increase is fully funded then it could resolve the pay dispute. The NEU has now called on Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, to "invite the teacher and leader unions into the DfE and be absolutely clear about whether, and when she intends, or not, to implement the STRB’s recommendations in full, or as we would argue to go beyond them". Schools Week.

According to The Observer, schools in England are set to move to class sizes of as many as 60 pupils from September to tackle the funding crisis. Ministers are insisting that there is still room in school budgets to cover the 4.5 per cent pay offer that teachers rejected last month, while headteachers have warned that next year they will be faced with staff cuts and bigger class sizes. By Anna Fazackerley.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has joined striking staff the picket line at Hutchesons’ Grammar School, the independent school both he and first minister Humza Yousaf attended. Teachers at the school are taking part in industrial action in a dispute over pensions. By Katrine Bussey and Craig Paton, The Times.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has promised to protect Britain's “precious” children amid concerns over relationships and sex education (RSE) in schools. Mr Sunak has vowed that a government review of England’s sex education curriculum will protect children from inappropriate sexual content and extreme opinions on gender. By Michael Murphy and Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

According to the Daily Mail, controversial sex education lessons for young pupils are still being promoted by the government despite the prime minister's promise of a crackdown. A guide by lobbying group Stonewall, which suggests young children are taught in English lessons that 'they' can be a singular pronoun, remains among the 'suggested resources' highlighted by the Department for Education (DfE). By Martin Beckford.

Experts writing in the British Medical Journal have called for every work-related suicide to be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive, following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry who was awaiting her school's Ofsted inspection report. The family of Ms Perry say the inspection put her under huge mental pressure. By Branwen Jeffreys, BBC News.

A poll by the Civitas think tank suggests more than half of teenagers think the world will likely end in their lifetime because of climate change, as parents warn of the dangers of “alarmist” teaching in schools. By Louisa Clarence-Smith, The Telegraph.

In a visit to Eton College's Dorney Lake as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, the Prince of Wales spoke to crew members of HMS Oardacious about his own rowing experiences at the school. Members of the group are taking part in a rowing challenge across the Atlantic in a bid to raise awareness and money for mental health issues in military personnel. By Joe Pinkstone, The Telegraph.

In a blog to mark the end of Mental Health Awareness Week, Dr Jenny Griggs, head of student emotional health and wellbeing at Wellington College, explains how the school’s reinvigorated Mental Health Ambassadors programme is continuing to ensure wellbeing is prioritised for staff and pupils.

In a separate piece, Jane Prescott, headmistress at Portsmouth High School GDST, explores the challenges facing young people and suggests some ways schools can support those struggling with their mental health.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is being urged by shadow cabinet figures to replace tuition fees in England with a graduate tax, as concern grows that the finances of universities are becoming unsustainable under the present system. By Michael Savage, The Observer.

The Spectator features an editorial piece on the subject of global university rankings and Britain's place on the world stage, in which it warns that "higher education is a global race and our place is in danger". British universities must not take their reputations for granted, it says, and on the issue of access it states: "Open discrimination against candidates on the basis of presumed privilege is deeply wrong – and also starts to undermine the status of the university from being a seat of unashamed excellence into an instrument of social engineering."

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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