The Independent Schools Council is a politically independent, not-for-profit organisation representing 1,270 independent schools educating more than 500,000 children. It exists to promote choice, diversity and excellence in education, developing talent at all levels of ability and from all backgrounds.
A public school education for my child?
Posted on April 20th, 2011 by Liam Butler, under News, Private Schools, Special Educational Needs (SEN)You’d be forgiven if the thought of ‘public schools’ still conjured up images of severe headmasters and stodgy lumpy custard but step into an independent school today and you might find yourself pleasantly surprised.
Public school education has evolved into…
The Red Tape Peril
Posted on January 22nd, 2010 by Matthew Burgess, under News, Politics, Private SchoolsInteresting to read that the state sector is also blaming red tape and overzealous child protection policies for the decline of foreign exchange trips (see Telegraph article ‘Foreign exchanges ‘axed over security fears’). The independent sector has been equally worried; more…
Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Independent Schools
Posted on July 22nd, 2009 by Ian Summersgill, under News, Private Schools, Special Educational Needs (SEN)It has been estimated that around 20% of children will need some form of extra support during their time at school. For many this will be relatively short-lived, for others it will affect their entire school – and home –…
School league tables, websites and independent schools guides: How do I decide which school is best for my child?
Posted on July 15th, 2009 by Liam Butler, under ISCias, Inspection, Private Schools, School Curriculum - Private Schools, School Inspection, School League TablesIn the digital age of instant news, interactive review sites and numerous school league tables how do you decide which independent school is the best for your child? Liam Butler, Senior Information Officer, who works for the Independent Schools Council…
ContactPoint goes live
Posted on May 22nd, 2009 by Ian Summersgill, under News, Politics, Private SchoolsLast week the Government’s £224m ContactPoint database went “live” across 17 Local Authorities in the north west of England. By the end of the year almost 400,000 people will have access to data on every child in England.
If you…
A Bright Spark: ‘Gifted and Talented’ in the Independent Sector
Posted on April 8th, 2009 by Liam Butler, under Boarding Schools, ISCias, News, Private Schools, Special Educational Needs (SEN)‘Gifted and Talented’ (G&T) children are defined as those who have one or more abilities developed significantly ahead of their year group or have the potential to develop these abilities. Helping Students achieve their full potential is certainly nothing new…
Prep Schools – A Tough Decision?
Posted on February 26th, 2009 by Liam Butler, under ISCias, Prep Schools, Private SchoolsAs the credit crunch bites it seems that many parents are cutting down on ‘luxuries’. This should mean a sharp downturn in pupils entering the independent sector and an increase in people moving into the state sector shouldn’t it? Perhaps not as more and more parents consider their child’s independent education to be a necessity rather than a luxury.
Independent Schools and Early Years Foundation Stage
Posted on June 9th, 2008 by Rosie Keeling, under Early Years Foundation Stage - Private Schools, NewsBy definition independent schools have the freedom to set their own curriculum and have freedom in their choice of pupils and are not dependent on Government or Local Authority finance.
Why then are they now being told that they will…