THE VALUE OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS 2021

THE VALUE OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS 2021

The ISC brings together seven associations and four affiliate associations to represent almost 1,400 independent schools. These schools educate more than half-a-million children. Around half of UK independent schools are ISC schools, educating around 80% of all independent school children.

Supporting education for all Every child deserves an excellent education and a good start in life.

Independent schools share this vision. The sector is a small part of the school system educating approximately 7% of children yet independent schools make a valuable contribution to our nation’s education by providing excellence, extra capacity, and innovation.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, independent schools have been part of the national fightback against the virus.

They stepped up in March 2020, along with state schools, to ensure that learning carried on at home, and stayed open to protect the vulnerable and the children of key workers.

Now, independent schools are supporting the recovery. Schools are working in partnership to help disadvantaged pupils, recover lost learning, and share expertise to benefit all children. The sector is keen to work with government and political parties to further help young people. We want to develop education policies that support the widest range of children across the country, help raise educational standards for all children, and support those who have fallen behind during the pandemic.

Independent schools are aware of their social responsibility. Our 2020 Census showed 85% of ISC member schools already have partnership relationships with their state-maintained colleagues –

meaning there were more than 11,700 partnership projects between independent schools, state schools, and community groups. These include the sharing of sports facilities, joint lessons in arts and drama, teaching A-level subjects which would not otherwise be offered, and support for university applications.

COVID-19 restrictions made it impossible to deliver face-to-face partnership activities. While some schemes moved online, schools also re-focused on how they could support their communities during the pandemic. As we move into the new academic year, schools are keen to resume regular partnership activities as soon as possible.

We invite everyone to find out more about our schools and the role they play in local Tcommunities. The Schools Together website (https://www.schoolstogether.org/) provides thousands of examples of the work independent schools are doing.

Independent schools are playing a positive role, and they want to do more. By working together with our state partners, independent schools can make the most of our combined capacity and specialisms for as many young people as possible.

Julie Robinson ISC chief executive

Supporting the fight against COVID-19 Independent schools have been playing their part in the national response since the start of the pandemic. They have supported their local communities, working together with state schools and critical services to continue education, protect children, and limit infections: • More than 10,000 beds in boarding schools were offered to NHS workers who needed accommodation near to their work, and away from family members to reduce the chance of passing on infections.

• Independent schools donated their PPE from science and design labs, and in some cases used their resources to manufacture additional PPE for local NHS and care services. Approximately 425,000 pieces of PPE were donated by independent schools in the first six months of 2020.

• Schools shared online resources to enable state and independent schools to continue learning remotely. This included teaching material and curriculum resources, as well as guidance on safeguarding and resilience during home learning.

Now they are using their partnership relationships – and forging new ones – to tackle learning loss, support disadvantaged pupils, and bridge the digital divide:

• Schools have been donating laptops and digital devices to partner schools and fundraising to buy more for local schools in need. For example, ACS International Schools donated 300 brand-new laptops to 20 partner state primary schools in and around Cobham to support local children who do not have access to technology at home.

• Summer schools have been run between partner schools – focused on those in exam years, or students who have joined sixth forms during the pandemic.

• Schools have also made online resources available to all state schools, whether local or across the country.

More than 1,000 state schools have signed up to EtonX, granting 420,000 secondary school students access to online resources on leadership skills and university preparation.

At the same time teachers and senior leaders in the independent sector have been affected by the work and emotional strain of keeping schools running during the pandemic, while schools themselves have faced financial challenges. Financial pressures while maintaining physical teaching and online provision has put a squeeze on many schools – with a number having closed since the onset of the pandemic.

About independent schools Parents who choose independent schools do so because they believe it is best for their child. The money spent on fees comes from taxed income – with many families stretching resources to support their children in this way.

We know that parents strongly value school choice – and the ability to access independent schools. As the UN Declaration of Human Rights states: “Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.”

Assumptions about independent schools are often based on stereotypes that mask the true diversity of a sector that encompasses a wide range of schools and approaches. Parents might choose independent education for some or all of their child’s education, or in order to meet particular needs. Independent schools offer specialisms in SEND, single-sex education, music, drama, dance or boarding, which are not always available in state-funded schools.

ISC schools vary significantly in size from fewer than 20 pupils to over 2,400, although half of all schools have fewer than 300 pupils. In reality, many independent schools are small and not as wealthy as people may imagine. Fewer than 90 schools (or 6% of ISC members) have more than 1,000 pupils.

Data from our annual school Census also show that: • Selection: More than half of our schools are not selective.

• SEND: 17% of pupils at our schools have SEND. • Diversity: A third of pupils at ISC schools are from ethnic minority backgrounds – about the same proportion as in the state sector.

• New pupils: Over a quarter of new pupils to ISC schools joined from the state-funded sector.

The impact of independent schools on the UK economy £13.7 bn £3.5 bn £11.6 bn

£3.0 bn

Demand-side support for annual GDP

Savings to taxpayer

2,444 schools 618,603 pupils

302,910

257,020 Jobs

£73 bn

1,317 schools 524,879 pupils

£62 bn Supply-side boost to annual GDP

£4.1 bn £3.5 bn Annual tax

Wider contribution to publicly funded education system and society

£1.8 bn

GDP supported by non-British students

All independent schools ISC schools Oxford Economics 2018

2021

The ISC annual Census was carried out in January 2021. All 1,377 schools in UK membership of the constituent associations completed the survey. The Census covers 532,237 pupils and provides a detailed snapshot of the schools and of the wider social and economic trends in the UK.

Academic Selection

School School SizeSize

726

300 300

Over half of ISC schools are not academically selective. A further 274 schools have academic selection only for some age groups.

The majority The majority of ISC schools of ISC schools have fewer have f than 300 than pupils.

300 The pupils. mean TheISC mean school ISC sch size is 387. size is 387.

Higher Education

Over

91%

24,

The majority of pupils who leave ISC schools go on to Higher Education. 54%, continue to a Top 25 university including 5% who go on to study at Oxbridge.

Pupils in live over all pupils to our sc

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

SEND

Et

8.9

90,298

3

Pupils for every teacher on average at ISC schools. There is a total of 57,136 full-time equivalent teachers.

Pupils at ISC schools who have been identified as having special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND).

Our tha with

Pupils

New Pupils

532,237

104,827

The third highest level since records began in 1974.

Over a quarter of new pupils to ISC schools joined from the state sector.

Means-tested Assistance

£455m

fewer hool

Provided in means-tested fee assistance for pupils at ISC schools. Nearly half of all pupils on means-tested bursaries have more than half of their fees remitted.

rseas Overseas PupilsPupils

Charitable Work

,674 24,674

£10.5m

n ISC Pupils schools in ISC whose schools parents whose parents rseas. liveThis overseas. represents This represents 4.6% of 4.6% of s and all pupils bringsand cultural brings diversity cultural diversity chools. to our schools.

Was raised for charities at ISC schools and 828 schools organised volunteering opportunities for staff and/or pupils.

thnic Ethnic Diversity Diversity

5% 35%

r ethnic Our ethnic diversity diversity closelyclosely mirrorsmirrors t ofthat the general of the general population, population, h similar with similar regional regional variation. variation.

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Delivering value to society Independent schools recognise their social duties. Through widening access, and partnerships with colleagues in the state sector, they make a significant contribution to the whole education system, and to their local communities.

Just over half of all independent schools are charities that advance education. Like all charities, these schools are regulated by the Charity Commission and must report on public benefit in their trustees’ annual report.

Independent schools primarily provide public benefit through partnerships with state schools or by offering bursaries, and this extends beyond those schools who are registered charities. In 2020, 85% of ISC schools were involved in partnership work, while only 73% of ISC schools were registered charities.

Partnerships Schools of all sizes are working together in partnership – showing that together they can achieve more and bring educational experiences to a greater number of children.

Educational partnerships between independent and state schools are an important aspect of school life, benefiting both schools and local communities. In January 2020, before COVID restricted activities, ISC schools were involved in 11,700 partnership projects including subject support in maths, science, and

modern foreign languages; teacher training; and careers and higher education advice and support.

Larger independent schools have forged partnerships through the sponsorship and co-sponsorship of schools as part of the Government’s academies and free schools programme. Schools such as the London Academies of Excellence in Tottenham and Stratford rely on independent school sponsorship and achieve high rates of Oxbridge entry.

When the COVID pandemic struck, independent schools joined their local communities to help the vulnerable and support our frontline services. These efforts included: • 639 schools donating to their local foodbanks, becoming collection centres, or having staff and students act as volunteer deliverers • 477 schools donating PPE from their food, science, and technology departments to local NHS trusts and key workers • 360 schools using their own facilities to manufacture additional PPE. The relationships between staff and pupils across the school system provide a strong base on which to build recovery.

Independent schools can provide academic support and opportunities for enrichment in areas such as sport, music and drama. Furthermore, with schools increasingly using remote technology, there is the potential for partnerships to

reach across larger distances and into communities where needs are greatest.

• ISC schools currently provide £455m in means tested bursaries and scholarships – a 3.4% increase on last year.

The sector is keen to do more and has signed a Joint Understanding with the Department for Education to grow stateindependent school partnerships to “support the raising of educational standards in state schools”. The ISC

publishes an annual report on partnership working.

• One in 12 pupils at ISC schools is on a means-tested bursary or scholarship.

Schools seek to do more whenever possible - but most schools do not have large endowments and must fundraise to provide bursaries.

• Royal SpringBoard has worked with over 120 independent schools in the last five years to secure fully-funded bursary placements for more than 800 looked-after children, children on the edge of care, and children from areas of socio-economic deprivation. The charity is working with a number of local authorities to significantly expand the opportunities available for lookedafter children and children identified by their local authorities as being in need to attend boarding and independent day schools.

“We have achieved a great deal as a result of the ability to create our own way of working together, helping to improve the outcomes of students at both schools.”

Mark Avoth, principal at The Bourne Academy

Widening access Independent schools are working to widen access through bursary provision and recognise the benefits this brings both to bursary pupils and the wider school community. Our latest data shows:

Trends in means-tested bursaries and scholarships versus non-means-tested scholarships at ISC schools (2011-2021)1 500

.

450 400

Value in £m

350 Means-tested bursaries and scholarships

300 250

Non-means-tested scholarships

200 150 100 1

50 0 2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Trends are only shown from 2011 onwards due to 1 Trends are only shown from 2011 onwards due to changes in methods of data collection relating to to feefee changes in methods of data collection relating assistance.

Note, duedue to the change in methodology assistance.

Note, to the change in methodology we weshould shouldbe becautious cautiousabout aboutdrawing drawingtoo toomany many conclusions in trend data between 2015 and 2016. conclusions in trend data between 2015 and 2016.

Benefits of independent schools Independent schools make an important and positive contribution to the education system, their local communities, and national productivity. In particular: Specialist SEND provision ISC schools educate more than 90,000 pupils recorded as having SEND, representing 17% of all pupils at ISC schools. The high proportion of pupils with SEND in the independent sector reflects the existence of a number of specialised schools, dedicated to giving education and care to children with serious and complex SEND requirements.

These schools provide extremely important additional capacity for local authority care systems. This specialised provision offered by some independent schools also allows them to contribute to research in the UK and internationally.

Independent schools also provide a supportive, nurturing environment for pupils with less severe needs, either through mainstream or specially designed curricula. The independence these schools have allows them to personalise learning and build assessments around pupils’ individual skill sets.

Boosting global competitiveness Independent schools also provide excellence in subjects vital to global competitiveness. Advanced maths and science study is key for technological innovation and countering climate change. While as global influence shifts, modern foreign languages will be vital for trade and international co-operation.

In the last year exams were taken (2019), independent schools accounted for: • Almost 30% of entries for A-levels in French and Spanish.

• 30% of further maths A-level entries.

• 21% of physics A-level entries.

An international asset The strong global reputation of British education attracts overseas companies and international students to the UK. These students bring a global perspective to our schools, enrich the community, and are a vital pipeline to British universities.

Independent schools are proud of the role they are playing in meeting the ambitions of the Government’s International Education Strategy and the

“Learning a foreign language can greatly benefit young people by introducing them to new cultures and dramatically expanding their horizon”.

Confederation of British Industry (CBI/Pearson Skills Survey 2019)

target of attracting 600,000 international students to the UK every year. Not only do international students choose UK independent schools but having been immersed in British life, many choose to remain and study at UK universities.

• Our last Census found there were almost 55,000 non-British pupils enrolled in ISC schools – of these, 25,000 had parents overseas, with 30,000 having parents in the UK. Although COVID has impacted enrolments, independent schools have worked hard to welcome students back and reassure them that Britain is a safe and welcoming place to learn.

• Non-British pupils at ISC schools account for £1.8bn of GDP per year, generating £550m in annual tax revenues.

• Independent schools contribute £1bn annually to education exports.

• In addition, British orientated international schools (the majority of which are not directly linked to UK independent schools) are part of the fast-growing international schools market, with a market share that currently stands at around 43% of almost 15,000 schools.

Supporting our economy Independent schools are often integral to communities, supporting economic prosperity both locally and nationally.

Research from Oxford Economics shows that for the UK as a whole, independent schools: • Contribute £13.7bn annually to GDP • Support 303,000 jobs • Provide £4.1bn in tax revenue • Save the state sector £3.5bn per year through parents not taking up state school places.

• British independent schools are also active internationally, with 81 campuses of ISC member schools operating overseas.

“The UK has a global reputation for education, characterised by excellence and quality. Our global education offer encompasses the full range of the education spectrum, including early years, independent schools...[and] higher education.”

International Education Strategy 2019, HM Government

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