Annual Review 2013
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ANNUAL REVIEW 2013 Choice | Diversity | Excellence www.scis.org.uk Company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland no 125368. Scottish Charity No SC018033 SCIS Governing Board 2013 CHAIRMAN Prof. Anton Colella BOARD MEMBERS Jennifer Alexander Business Director, George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh * Mark Becher Headmaster, The Compass School, Haddington ** Wendy Bellars Head, Queen Victoria School, Dunblane Gerry Brown Bursar, St Margaret’s School, Aberdeen ** Gavin Calder Headmaster, The Edinburgh Academy Junior School Colin Crosby Governor, Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen ** Gareth Edwards Principal, George Watson’s College, Edinburgh ^ Dr John Halliday Rector, High School of Dundee ** Alistair Hector Head, George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh ** Richard Hellewell Chief Executive, The Royal Blind School, Edinburgh Elizabeth Lister Governor, Strathallan School, Forgandenny Innes MacAskill Headmaster, Belhaven Hill School, Dunbar ** Janice MacNeill Principal & Chief Executive, Donaldson's School, Linlithgow ^ Tom McGhee Director, Spark of Genius, Paisley Colin Mair Rector, The High School of Glasgow ^ Jonathan Molloy Bursar, Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools, Edinburgh * Simon Mills Headmaster, Lomond School, Helensburgh Armorel Robinson Bursar, Craigclowan Preparatory School, Perth * Gillian Stobo Principal, Craigholme School, Glasgow Kathleen Sweeney Bursar, St Aloysius’ College, Glasgow Richard Toley Head, Lathallan School, Angus Justin Wilkes Bursar, Dollar Academy, Clackmannanshire * Prof. Brian Williams Chair of Governors, Hutchesons’ Grammar School Gordon Woods Warden, Glenalmond College, Perth Jeremy Chittleburgh Hon Treasurer SCIS and Treasurer, St George’s School, Edinburgh * Denotes those appointed at the SCIS AGM in April 2013. ** Denotes those retired at, or prior to, the SCIS AGM in April 2013. ^ Denotes co-opted member. SCIS STAFF Director John Edward CPD coordinator Nicola Dudley Communications and marketing Alison Herbert (from 11.2013) Sarah Randell (until 10.2013) Policy and liaison Laura Forster (from 6.2013) Tania Smith (until 6.2013) Finance, office manager, research Alison Newlands CPD administration, jobs & supply Fiona MacAulay The Scottish Council of Independent Schools is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No 125368 and registered as a Scottish Charity, No SC018033, at 61 Dublin Street, Edinburgh EH3 6NL. www.scis.org.uk 02 | ANNUAL REVIEW 2013 scis.org.uk | Choice | Diversity | Excellence Introduction from the Chairman and Chief Executive CHAIRMAN DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE The following report makes for encouraging reading – in It is never an easy task looking in two directions at once. two ways. For those involved in the independent sector As a membership body for a high-achieving, fast-moving as pupils, families and teachers it is an indication of the and increasingly diverse body of schools, SCIS has to keep continuity and confidence of teaching and learning in the an eye on many things. Changes in education, in sector. For those further afield, as policy-makers, teaching, in technology, safeguarding, sport and so on commentators, or the general public; it demonstrates the are constant and not always well-advertised in advance. inventiveness, resilience and continuing attraction of the At the same time, the wheels of policy and law making independent sector. roll forwards and the diverse needs of the independent sector are not always the first consideration in Scottish education has been through many changes of decision-makers minds. late. Whatever the result in September 2014, Scotland SCIS does all it can to keep the concerns, best practice itself will change in the months and years to come. SCIS and achievements of the independent sector on display has worked long and hard to anticipate those changes. I and well-understood, while never forgetting the relative am secure in the knowledge that the independent sector size of the sector in Scottish, UK and global school in Scotland is well-equipped, well-informed and education. Two of the key concerns of independent well-prepared for what lies ahead, and acknowledge on schools in Scotland have moved towards if not their end, behalf of the Governing Board the excellent work the then the beginning of an end in 2013. team at SCIS is doing. As a fresh new set of challenges approach - along with recurring issues for schools, their boards, their staff, pupils Professor Anton Colella and families – I am confident that SCIS possesses the Chairman energy and expertise to serve the sector as best it can. In doing so, we will also ensure that the sector’s place at the historic heart of Scottish education is never far from the minds of others. John Edward Director/Chief Executive 03 | ANNUAL REVIEW 2013 scis.org.uk | Choice | Diversity | Excellence SCISVision Governing & Values Board 2013 Scottish Council of Independent Schools is an educational charity representing over 70 member schools, which educate more than 31,000 children of mixed abilities from diverse backgrounds. SCIS promotes choice, diversity and excellence in Scottish education. Objectives to provide a to enable the sector to represent and professional service to to make a worthwhile promote the interests member schools that contribution to the of the independent is supportive, relevant development of school sector and of high quality education in Scotland SCIS’S ROLE IN INDEPENDENT EDUCATION IN SCOTLAND Aims to provide information, advice and guidance to parents to advance education via curriculum development and the training of teachers to advise member schools and their governing bodies about educational developments and legislation aecting independent schools (e.g. education, taxation, welfare, health and safety) to communicate and negotiate with the Scottish Parliament, the Government, public and private bodies on behalf of the independent sector 04 | ANNUAL REVIEW 2013 scis.org.uk | Choice | Diversity | Excellence Activities and Achievements SCIS SCHOOL STATISTICS Examination Results SCIS provides analysis of pupil numbers, fees, staffing levels, examination results, leaver destinations and the financial Although most pupils in the independent sector sit SQA examinations, a significant number are presented for GCSE, A Levels assistance provided by independent schools – as well as ad hoc research work requested by the Governing Board of SCIS and and the International Baccalaureate. The full table of results is published by SCIS each year and can be found on the SCIS individual schools. All research findings are published on the SCIS website. website. In 2013: The latest Scottish examination results for independent schools are produced from the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s • SCIS was equivalent to the seventh largest local authority in terms of pupil numbers in its member schools. post-appeals data, published in December 2013. The information can be used in conjunction with the Scottish Schools Online • The independent school sector employed 6.4% (3,459) of the teaching workforce in Scotland and was the 6th website (currently under review) to compare results at individual schools with schools nationally. largest employer of teachers. There are 4,000 non-teaching sta including residential care, support and administrative sta. The table below page sets out the pass rates and percentage of entries awarded grade A – or grade 1 in the case of • 88% of leavers entered further or higher education. Standard Grade – in SCIS schools, compared with all Scottish schools. Pupil Numbers Comparable figures for International Baccalaureate, A Level and GCSE results are not currently available due to continuing difficulties with accessing results data from the relevant examination bodies. At the start of each new academic year SCIS conducts a census to gather data from member schools, which provides an overview of the sector. The analysis of this data is made available to member schools, the public and the press. Facts and statistics about pupil numbers and demographic projections can be downloaded from the SCIS website. As at September 2012 there were 31,146 pupils in SCIS schools. Of these, 1,722 were children in nurseries, 10,805 were in primary schools and 18,619 were in secondary schools. Pupil numbers in the independent sector have been remarkably resilient: 2013 saw a fractional fall of 0.7%. Financial Assistance All member schools offer financial assistance, most commonly in the form of means-tested awards, granted on the basis of financial need. The level of financial assistance can vary considerably from a free place (where 100% of the fees are met by the school) to awards worth around 10% of the fees. Since 2009, the number of pupils on fully funded places has increased by over 60%. The proportion of all SCIS pupils who receive means tested support has increased by nearly one third over the same period. 05 | ANNUAL REVIEW 2013 scis.org.uk | Choice | Diversity | Excellence SCIS SCHOOL STATISTICS Examination Results SCIS provides analysis of pupil numbers, fees, staffing levels, examination results, leaver destinations and the financial Although most pupils in the independent sector sit SQA examinations, a significant number are presented for GCSE, A Levels assistance provided by independent schools – as well as ad hoc research work requested by the Governing Board of SCIS and and the International Baccalaureate. The full table of results is published by SCIS each year and can be found on the SCIS individual schools. All research findings are published on the SCIS website. website. In 2013: