In the latest episode of The Telegraph's Money Confidential podcast, Katie Morley talks to parents Phil and Anna about their reasons for moving further north to find an independent school for their twin boys, a move that has been successful for the family. To listen to the interview in full, click the link to the podcast half-way down the page. 

The paper asks readers to share their experiences of state and independent schooling. If you would like to take part, please email moneyconfidential@telegraph.co.uk. A live poll at the end of the article asks: "Do you think private schools are worth the fees?"

Principal of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Simon Larter-Evans has a letter published in The Times, warning that Labour’s tax policy "would have a devastating impact on arts education in this country". On seeking to ensure his school can remain accessible to children from all backgrounds, Mr Larter-Evans says: "We invest 10 per cent of our school’s income in bursary support: this will dry up should Labour’s plan to put VAT on school fees come into force."

The paper also features a letter from Dr Michael Nicholas, organist emeritus at Norwich Cathedral, who warns that adding VAT to school fees "would call into question the future of some cathedral and college chapel choirs". Dr Nicholas writes: "A 20 per cent levy on school fees could break the long tradition of fine music in Christian worship and extraordinary opportunities for musical education." The letters appear half-way down the page.

Writing in Independent Schools Magazine, Stephen Burley, head at King's High School in Warwick, outlines the positive partnerships his school has with a local school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Dr Burley talks about the school's holiday club provision that supports young people with profound disabilities and the life-changing impact it has had on those involved. Keen to encourage other independent schools to follow suit, he writes: "By partnering successfully with your local special school the impact is incredibly high and the benefits for children at both schools are palpably clear."

Ministers should create a financial literacy qualification as an alternative to GCSE maths resits as part of their plans for an Advanced British Standard, the Commons Education Committee has said. Members of the committee have called for the government to provide post-16 students with “comprehensive financial education” as a “priority” in proposals to continue maths education to the age of 18. By Billy Camden, FE Week. 

Following new guidance from the Department for Education recommending schools publish information about their music offerings online, Steven Berryman shares advice for staff who are starting a music development plan. Reassuring colleagues that the process need not be too time-consuming, he also suggests including details about how access to music is supported for pupils with SEND. Dr Berryman is president of the Chartered College of Teaching and, from September, will be senior deputy head at Sir William Perkins’s School. Tes.

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.

Sign-up to the email service is available on our website.

Members can contact the ISC if they know in advance of news, letters or opinions that are likely to feature in the media, or are aware of existing coverage which they would like to see featured in the DNS.

Headlines and first-line summaries are written by the ISC with the link directing to the source material. You should read and comply with the terms and conditions of the websites to which we link.