Choice | Diversity | Excellence ANNUAL REVIEW 2015 www.scis.org.uk Company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland no 125368. Scottish Charity No SC018033 SCIS Governing Board 2015 CHAIRMAN Prof. Anton Colella BOARD MEMBERS Jennifer Alexander Business Director, George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh John Broadfoot Governor, Merchiston School, Edinburgh** Gavin Calder Headmaster, The Edinburgh Academy Junior School Michael Carslaw Headmaster, St Leonards School, St Andrews Anne Everest Head, St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh Richard Harvey Head, Ardvreck School, Crieff ** Richard Hellewell Chief Executive, The Royal Blind School, Edinburgh Simon Johnson Headmaster, Wellington School, Ayr ^ Elizabeth Lister Governor, Strathallan School, Forgandenny Colin Mair Rector, The High School of Glasgow, Glasgow ** Jonathan Molloy Bursar, Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools, Edinburgh Simon Mills Head of College, Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen ** Dr Laura Murphy Headteacher, Fernhill School, Glasgow ^ Kieron O'Brien Head of Education, Common Thread Schools, Dumfries ^ Armorel Robinson Bursar, Craigclowan Preparatory School, Perth Melvyn Roffe Principal, George Watson's College, Edinburgh * Melvyn Shanks Principal, Belmont House 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 ** Guy Cartwright Hon Treasurer SCIS and Bursar, The Edinburgh Academy, Edinburgh * Denotes those appointed at the SCIS AGM in April 2015. ** Denotes those retired at the SCIS AGM in April 2015 or at another point in 2015. ^ Denotes co-opted member. SCIS STAFF Director John Edward Deputy Director Professional Learning & Development Nicola Dudley (to 31 Dec 2015) Deputy Director Professional Learning & Development Margaret Lannon (from 1 Jan 2016) Deputy Director Communications & Marketing Alison Herbert Policy & Liaison Ruth Mendel Finance & Research Alison Newlands Professional Learning & Development 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 2015 scis.org.uk | Choice | Diversity | Excellence Introduction from the Chairman and Chief Executive CHAIRMAN DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE The publication of this Report marks my sixth, and final, year This has been an intensive year for the sector in Scotland, as Chairman of the Governing Board of SCIS. I have been with independent schools and teaching more in the very fortunate to work alongside many schools, Heads, limelight than is usual. The perseverance of schools and Governors and staff that bring great credit to the sector in their staff has been invaluable – our thanks goes to all the Scotland. I would like to applaud the contribution of the membership. At the same time, we also come to the end of Board members over these last years, and particularly the conscientious, diplomatic, firm and focussed honour and pay tribute to the leadership and outstanding chairmanship of Anton Colella, for which the SCIS staff are work of our Director John Edward and his Team who serve hugely grateful. the sector tirelessly. The Education Bill was introduced and amended to include Scottish independent schools have a reach, an output and a several sections specific to the independent and recognition that far outweighs the size of the sector. It has grant-aided sector. One of these, full GTCS registration, has been a great pleasure to support them in their important been the aim of many schools and teachers for years and work over the last six years, and I wish them every success in will, in due course, come to pass relatively smoothly. The the world that lies ahead. I wish the same to my successor other, the extension of the Into Headship proposal to the in her work. independent sector, was a more concerning development, neither tested and consulted in a sector with as many types Professor Anton Colella of school headship and leadership as there are schools. At the same time, moves were made to extend Freedom Of Information legislation to independent special schools; the final schools were passing through the formal charity test, while a public petition seeking to unravel that work was finally closed; the Doran Review moved towards a national commissioning model; the Child Abuse Inquiry began work; and so on. During all of this, and while curriculum and qualification changes continued and the challenge of attainment was brought to the top of the political agenda, independent schools continued to deliver choice, diversity and excellence. To quote the First Minister from August 2015, “When it comes to the education of our young people and to improving attainment…what matters…is what works.” John Edward 03 | ANNUAL REVIEW 2015 scis.org.uk | Choice | Diversity | Excellence Visions & Values Scottish Council of Independent Schools is an educational charity representing over 70 member schools, which educates more than 30,000 children of mixed abilities from diverse backgrounds. 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 PROMOTES CHOICE, DIVERSITY AND EXCELLENCE IN SCOTTISH EDUCATION. Aims to advise member schools and their governing bodies on 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 to advance education via curriculum development and the training of teachers to provide information, advice and guidance to parents 04 | ANNUAL REVIEW 2015 scis.org.uk | Choice | Diversity | Excellence Activities & Achievements SCIS SCHOOL STATISTICS SCIS provides analysis of pupil numbers, staffing levels, examination results, leaver destinations and the financial assistance THERE ARE OF WHICH THERE ARE provided by independent schools – as MAINSTREAM well as ad hoc research work requested by SCHOOLS the Governing Board of SCIS and 52 individual schools. All research findings ADDITIONAL are published on the SCIS website. The SUPPORT historical and comparative data which 72 20 NEEDS SCHOOLS SCIS provides helps schools demonstrate MEMBER their value for money and evaluate their BOARDING SCHOOLS Examination Results position in a wider context. SCHOOLS 18 Although most senior pupils in the independent sector sit Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) examinations, a significant number are presented for GCSE, A Levels and the International Baccalaureate. The full table of results by school is published In 2015: by SCIS each year on the SCIS website. • SCIS is equivalent to the eighth largest local authority in terms of pupil numbers in its member schools. The latest Scottish examination results for independent schools are produced from the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s post • The independent school sector employed 6.4% (3,490) of the teaching workforce in Scotland and was the 3rd marking review, published in December 2015. The summary below provides a snapshot of the performance of candidates in largest employer of teachers by local authority area. There are almost 3,900 non-teaching staff including independent schools compared with candidates in all schools in Scotland. residential care, support and administrative sta. • 88% of leavers entered further or higher education. Comparable figures for Scotland in International Baccalaureate, A Level and GCSE results are not currently available although individual results for each participating school are available. Each year the Independent Schools Council (ISC) releases A Level and International Baccalaureate results and Scottish independent schools are included in the data produced.1 Pupil Numbers 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. Pupil numbers in the independent sector remain robust despite a slight dip in pupil numbers and the percentage of pupils in independent education in Scotland remains the same at 4.4%. As at September 2015 BOYS 50.8% 30,238 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IN MEMBERSHIP OF SCIS. 1,417 IN NURSERIES, GIRLS 10,662 IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS, 49.2% 18,159 IN SENIOR SCHOOLS. 05 | ANNUAL REVIEW 2015 scis.org.uk | Choice | Diversity | Excellence Activitites & Achievements cont... SCIS SCHOOL STATISTICS Financial Assistance SCIS provides analysis of pupil numbers, All member schools offer financial assistance, most FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS staffing levels, examination results, leaver commonly in the form of means-tested awards, Totalling over destinations and the financial assistance granted on the basis of financial need. The level of . 4% provided by independent schools – as financial assistance can vary considerably from a free 26 receive well as ad hoc research work requested by place to awards worth around 10% of the fees. In FINANCIAL