THE VALUE OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

2019

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) brings together seven associations and four affiliate associations to represent over 1,300 independent schools. These schools educate more than half-a-million children. Approximately half of UK independent schools are ISC schools, educating around 80% of all independent school children.

Supporting education for all About independent schools

Every child de serves an excellen t co unterparts – e quatin g to a lmo st Pa rent s who ch oose independent 2,000, although half of all schools have education and a good sta rt i n life. 11,5 00 partnership projects inclu ding schools wa nt the best for their fewer than 300 pupils. In reality, many supporting pupils with univ ersity chi ld ren. T he m oney spent on fees independent schools are small and not The independent sector is a small part applications, careers advice and co mes from tax ed income with as wealthy as people may imagine. of the school system – educating providing teaching in shortage m any f amilies stretching resources approximately 7% of children – yet subjects such as modern foreign to support their children in this Only 83 schools (or 6% of ISC these schools make a valuable languages. way. members) have more than a thousand contribution to our nation’s education pupils. by providing excellence, extra capacity, We invite everyone to find out more As the United Nations Declaration of and innovation. about our schools and the role we Human Rights states, “parents have a Data from our annual school Census

play in local communities. The Schools prior right to choose the kind of also shows that: The sector is keen to work with Together website schoolstogether.org education that shall be given to their government and political parties to provides thousands of examples of the • Half of our schools are not selective. children”. develop educati on policies th at w ork o ur sc hools areT do ing . • Over 15% of pupils at our schools support the widest range of children Ass umption s ab out independent have SEND. across the country, helping to raise Our sector is playing a positive role schools are often based on outdated educational standards for all. Our and wants to do more by working • A third of pupils at ISC schools are stere otypes that mask the true vision is one of partnership where together with our state partners, from ethnic minority backgrounds – independent and state schools work making the most of our combined diversity of a sector encompassing the same proportion as the state togethe r to s ha re exper tise and c apa city and sp ecialisms for as many co-educational schools, single-sex, sector. boarding a nd provision for special resources to benefit all children. young people as possible. • Over a quarter of new pupils to ISC educa tion al need s and disabilities schools joined from the state- (SEND). Specialist music, dance and Independ ent scho ol s ar e aware of their funded sector. social res ponsi bility. A cross the U K, SEND schools receive state funding, independen t an d state schools are providing capacity for children who combin ing their ex p e rtise to p rov ide could not be accommodated in the meaningful opportunities for state system. increas ing num be rs of y oung peop le. ISC schools vary significantly in size Our latest Census shows 84% of ISC from fewer than 50 pupils to over member schools already have Julie Robinson partnerships with their state ISC, chief executive Benefits of independent schools

Independent schools make an Innovation in education Supporting our economy An international asset important and positive The sector’s independence allows it to Independent schools are often The strong global reputation of British contribution to the education innovate, developing new ways of integral to neighbourhood education attracts overseas companies system, their local communities teaching and trialling new communities, supporting economic and international students to the UK. and national productivity. qualifications, which enable students prosperity both locally and nationally. These students bring a global In particular: to better prepare for further and Research from Oxford Economics perspective, enrich the community higher education. New methods of shows that for the UK as a whole, and are a vital pipeline to British Boosting global competitiveness teaching and learning can also be independent schools: universities. Supporting provision in subjects that shared with the state sector. • Contribute £13.7bn annually to • There are currently 55,000 non- are crucial to harnessing new GDP British pupils at ISC schools. Pupils technologies and building global Independent schools place great value come from all round the world. relationships. Last year (2018) on providing a broad all-round • Support 303,000 jobs independent schools accounted for: education including learning • Provide £4.1bn in tax revenue • Independent schools contribute opportunities outside the classroom, £930m annually to education • 30% of Spanish A-level and 30% of • Save the state sector £3.5bn per exports. French A-level entries such as music, sport, drama and year through parents not taking up volunteering. state school places • Non-British pupils at ISC schools • 30% of further maths A-level entries account for £1.8bn of GDP per year, • 22% of physics A-level entries Helping to develop soft skills is hugely supporting 39,310 jobs and important, and we know from generating £550m in annual tax “If there is a lack of wider provision of independent research that pupils at revenues. foreign languages for children, UK our schools are confident and like a business will suffer and will be unable challenge. Independent schools are to seize global opportunities well known for delivering character effectively.” education and supporting wellbeing. “The UK has a global reputation for education, characterised by excellence and quality. Our global Confederation of British Industry (CBI/Pearson Skills Survey 2018) education offer encompasses the full range of the education spectrum, including early years, independent schools...[and] higher education.” International Education Strategy, HM Government

Delivering value to society

Just over half of all independent subjects like Latin and classics which Widening access schools are charities that advance are not often available outside the Independent schools are working to • A scheme to place increasing education. These schools are independent sector. widen access to their schools through numbers of looked-after children regulated by the Charity bursary provision and recognise the (LAC) in independent schools is Commission and must report on Larger independent schools have benefits this brings both to bursary under development. Following a public benefit in their trustees’ forged partnerships through the pupils and the wider school successful pilot in Norfolk, local annual report. Schools will sponsorship and co-sponsorship of community. Our latest data shows: authorities and receiving primarily deliver public benefit by schools as part of the Government’s independent schools are committed • ISC schools currently provide £422m way of support for the state sector academies and free schools to jointly fund places for LACs and in means-tested bursaries and through partnerships and schemes programme. Schools such as the children on the edge of care. In scholarships – a 6% increase on last to widen access. London Academies of Excellence in addition, Royal National Children’s year. Tottenham and Stratford rely on SpringBoard Foundation provides Partnerships independent school sponsorship and • One in 13 pupils at ISC schools is bursaries for disadvantaged and Schools of all kinds are demonstrating achieve high rates of Oxbridge entry. on a means-tested bursary or vulnerable children to attend that in partnership they can achieve scholarship. There is an appetite to boarding schools. more, bringing educational experiences The sector is keen to do more and has do more but most schools do not to a greater number of children signed a Joint Understanding with the have large endowments and must through all kinds of collaborative Department for Education to grow meet bursary costs through    schhools in        partnershhips projects. state-independent school partnerships fundraising. Sharing lesssons, preparing pupils fofor higher education, to “support the raising of educational co mbining kn owledge, skills aand expertise

Educational partnerships between standards in state schools” . The ISC independent and state schools are an publishes an annual report on    schools in     partnerships important aspect of school life and partnership working. Pr oviding lesson s, host ing joint musical events, such collaborations mutually benefit school communities. Our Census shows “We have developed professional and       schools in   partnerships ISC schools are currently involved in productive relationships across a   ISC schools 11,500 partnership projects. diversity of independent and state in partnership wwith schools. We recognise that collaboration sta te schoolss Independent schools offer GCSE and A- between the sectors is of great value –  schoo ls in     partnerships level revision classes; subject support in learning from our diversity makes each Staging joint drama events, shaharing theatres or dance studios maths, science and modern foreign of us better at what we do.”   languages; teacher training; careers and   schools in   partnerships Andrew Celano, state headteacher Partnershhips take a variety of ffoorms – includding higher education advice – including at St. Mary’s Catholic School, sponsoring academies, serving as governors at interview technique and application state schools and projojects that develop softft skil ls support – as well as masterclasses in Bishop’s Stortford Looking to the future The impact of independent schools on the UK economy ISC schools are proud to be part of of the value of learning to society, and a diverse education system, where independent schools are not treated different schools collaborate as a special case in this respect. £13.7 bn together to support all children to Imposing VAT on school fees would £3.5 bn meet their potential. penalise parents and would be a tax £11.6 bn on learning. £3.0 bn Independent schools are part of the Demand-side solution to the educational issues Ultimately, it would be smaller support for Savings to facing the country and should be an independent schools without large annual GDP taxpayer asset that is harnessed. The offer each catchment areas that would be hit independent school can make to state hardest by VAT, potentially leading to schools in their local communities will closures that harm parents, pupils, and 2,444 schools vary according to capability and staff. It is inevitable that a sudden fee 618,603 pupils experience, but through strengthened increase will mean children moving to 302,910 £73 bn local brokerage independent schools the state sector, swelling class sizes can come together to make a positive and resulting in higher costs. Research difference to local state partners, with shows that VAT would cost the 257,020 1,317 schools all participants gaining from the Government at least £416m in its fifth 524,879 pupils £62 bn experience. year once pupil displacement and VAT Jobs recovery is taken into account. Supply-side In addition, the sector is open to boost to annual GDP discussions on how access to Parents value choice over their independent schools could be children’s education. Recent polling widened, possibly through some form has shown 68% of people believe that Wider contribution to of co-funding model. It is essential that parents should have the choice of £4.1 bn publicly funded education £1.8 bn any proposed reforms do not paying for their children’s education, system and society negatively impact upon the state while only 18% disagreed. system. Proposals to add VAT to fees £3.5 bn GDP supported by non-British students and to remove charitable tax reliefs Independent schools are part of the Annual would be damaging to all schools broader educational offering, tax both independent and state. delivering excellence to the pupils in their care, and a force for good that All independent schools European law currently exempts all can be utilised for the benefit of pupils forms of education from VAT because across the country. ISC schools

Oxford Economics 2018 Constituent Associations Girls’ Schools Association, Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference Independent Association of Prep Schools, Independent Schools Association The Society of Heads, Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools The Independent Schools’ Bursars Association

Affiliated Associations Boarding Schools’ Association, Council of British International Schools Scottish Council of Independent Schools, Welsh Independent Schools Council

Independent Schools Council First Floor, 27 Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9BU 020 7766 7070 www.isc.co.uk