Celebrating Partnerships Annual Report of cross-sector partnership work between independent and state schools
ISSUE 1 APRIL 2017
Contents Introduction
1
Partnership: The real facts and figures
2
Free places and reduced fees
3
Multi-school partnerships
4
Schools sponsoring state schools
6
Broadening sixth form teaching
8
Assisting with university access and careers
9
Extending academic partnerships
10
Widening participation in sport
14
Enriching extra-curricular activities
16
Sharing facilities
18
Contributing to teacher training
19
Helping disadvantaged children to board
20
Schools as resources for the nation
22
Challenging the myths about independent schools
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Editor Georgina Belcher, Communications Officer Contributors Barnaby Lenon, Chairman of ISC Tracy Cook, Head of Media and Communications Kellie Dare-Williams, Digital Content Manager Celebrating Partnerships is published annually by the Independent Schools Council. The Independent Schools Council brings together seven associations and four affiliate associations to represent 1,300 independent schools. These schools are amongst the best in the world and educate more than half-a-million children. Around half of UK independent schools are ISC schools and these educate around 80% of all independent school children. Independent schools save the taxpayer ÂŁ4 billion a year from students not being in state education and contribute ÂŁ11 billion to the economy.
Introduction Most independent schools work in partnership with state schools and their local community. Indeed it is part of their very DNA to do so. Contributing to and sharing with the local community is part of the charitable ethos and purpose of ISC schools.
Partnership activity is as exciting as it is broad. It can take many forms - from sharing classes, offering help with subjects where there are teacher shortages, coaching on university access and careers, to sharing opportunities in sport, music and drama.
ISC and its member associations remain ready and willing to support the Government in extending opportunities to improve education nationally. The Independent Schools Council manifesto stated in 2015, “The mission of all schools, whether state or independent, is to educate children to achieve their full potential; any barriers, real or perceived, between the two sectors are counterproductive.”
The most effective and successful engagement develops between Heads or teachers really wanting to work together, out of genuine local relationships, need and enthusiasms. ‘Forcing’ partnerships could be patronising and result in division, strained links, resentment and, most importantly, ineffective relationships.
Promoting and encouraging effective partnerships has been a high priority for the sector for many years and these partnerships now benefit 160,000 state school pupils annually. ISC schools are a small but important part of the English education system. Independent schools are keen to work with the state sector, despite rarely receiving recognition from Government for the huge amount they do already.
Only 7% of pupils attend 1,300 ISC independent schools, but there are 25,000 state-funded schools in the UK, so there is a limit to the support our sector can provide. But we want to do more. This booklet demonstrates just a small selection of the many wide ranging and beneficial partnerships that independent schools are involved in with their state school colleagues. You can see more examples on the Schools Together website: www.schoolstogether.org.
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Partnership: the real facts and figures According to the 2016 ISC Census, there are 1,112 ISC schools in partnership with state schools. These partnerships benefit
10,000 state schools and approximately 160,000 state school pupils.
87% of ISC schools are involved in partnerships yet only 78% of these schools hold charitable status. Academic partnerships: • 848 schools are in academic partnerships with state schools •
720 invite pupils to attend lessons, workshops or other events
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585 share knowledge, skills and experience
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333 work together to improve the quality of teaching and learning for pupils
Music partnerships: • 616 schools are in music partnerships with state schools •
541 invite pupils to attend lessons, performances or host events
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46 second music teaching staff
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Sports partnerships: • 991 schools are in sporting partnerships with state schools •
656 invite pupils to attend coaching sessions or host joint sporting events
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441 invite pupils to use sporting facilities
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70 schools second coaching staff
Drama partnerships: • 570 schools are in drama partnerships with state schools •
490 invite pupils to attend drama classes, performances or host events
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208 invite pupils to use drama or dance facilities
Other partnerships: • 892 schools are in partnership with state schools in other ways •
515 have members of staff serving as governors at state schools
•
119 schools are in partnerships with Academies through sponsorship or federation
Free places and reduced fees Nearly one third of independent school pupils receive help paying their fees and ISC schools provide £700 million in fee assistance overall. ISC schools offer help with fees so children can come to our schools whatever their background. Widening access for children from lower income homes • ISC schools offer £370 million in free places and reduced fees to children from lower income homes. • Nearly half of all pupils on means-tested bursaries have more than half their fees remitted. • Over 5,400 pupils pay no fees at all. • The effectiveness of bursary help can be seen in the movement to higher education.
There are students from relatively wealthy backgrounds at state schools, and students from relatively disadvantaged ones at independent schools. 30% of entrants in receipt of the full Oxford Bursary (students with a household income of £16,000 or less) were educated in the independent sector. Oxford University
Multi-school partnerships A number of ISC schools are members of groups who work collaboratively to run independent and state schools. The Wimbledon ISSP is run by King’s College School, Wimbledon in collaboration with a group of seven statefunded secondary schools. This includes cross-sector governance, management and teacher training courses, support for applicants to Russell Group universities and medical schools, revision classes and a three-year project for students in Years 9-11. King’s also runs a year-long project for more able primary school pupils to prepare them for 11+ entry tests to selective senior schools. Over 300 King’s pupils engage in weekly mentoring at over twenty state-funded secondary, special needs and primary schools in subjects such as maths, science, Latin, Chinese, geography and English. King’s sixth-formers also work on joint drama and creative writing projects with their counterparts at two state-funded sixth forms.
The Southwark Learning Partnership ISSP is a long running collaboration between three independent and seven local state schools. There are numerous links between staff and pupils, providing opportunities for shared good practice, collaborative academic projects (examples include human rights conferences, Model United Nations, philosophy projects and shared Oxbridge preparation) and voluntary work. For the last few years, James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS) has provided Latin teaching to senior pupils at Charter, a local state school. We work together well and there is so much more mutual “respect than most of the public would assume. I know that this pattern is repeated up and down the country and we collaborate because it is beneficial to all and makes for better schools – not because we have been told to do so. Teachers want to teach and they want the best for young people.
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Sally-Anne Huang Headmistress at James Allen’s Girls’ School
“ISSPs have been a successful – and durable – initiative, which have had a real impact on the “
quality of learning in partner schools...Working exclusively in one school can limit horizons, whereas working collaboratively can make a difference. Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools
I cannot thank you enough for giving him this chance and “for believing in him even when he was at his low point. It’s thanks to ISSP that he will have more opportunities with his education. It is an outstanding programme. A parent of a state school pupil
The ISSP provision enriches our students in a way we “cannot afford.
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Hampton ISSP links two independent schools and five state schools, offering a varied programme of educational and co-curricular opportunities. All schools are invited to host events across the year and pupils join together for activities including: maths, IT, science, design & technology, Latin, public speaking, dance, music, and a Model United Nations Conference. There are GCSE revision sessions leading to improvements in final grades and courses such as A-Level further maths, which the state school pupils would not otherwise have been able to study.
The City of York ISSP includes three independent schools and eight state schools, running over 5,000 individual learning experiences for pupils in York across all partner schools. This includes masterclasses in Latin and astronomy GCSE; AS history of art; critical thinking AS and Russian. Residential schools run in the summer and autumn. There are leadership and enterprise days, university and aspiration days. The ISSP also facilitates shared professional development for teachers.
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The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham The Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham is a charitable institution that operates two independent schools, five voluntary aided selective state schools in Birmingham and one Academy. Today, King Edward’s School and King Edward VI High School for Girls are extremely successful independent schools, with many free and assisted places making them widely accessible to all families.
John Tomsett, Headteacher at Huntington School
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Schools sponsoring state schools Numerous ISC schools have formed partnerships with state schools, through the sponsorship and co-sponsorship of the Government’s Academies and free schools programme. Some independent schools also work with Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs).
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Approximately
39 ISC schools support 137 state schools through sponsorship in various forms.
Canford School, Dorset has successfully sponsored The Bourne Academy, Bournemouth (formerly King’s High). The school specialises in engineering and English. Since opening as an Academy, exam results have significantly improved and the younger year groups are now full (against a background of falling numbers in the borough). The Girls’ Day School Trust sponsors two Academies, The Belvedere Academy and Birkenhead High School Academy in Liverpool. The schools share expertise, resources and a range of activities.
Highgate School is due to open London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham in September 2017, offering 16-19 year-olds a rigorous academic route into top universities. As the free school’s principal education sponsor, Highgate School is also in partnership with seven other independent schools. Benenden School, Kent sponsors The John Wallis Church of England Academy in Ashford. The schools share governance and staff meet to share classroom ideas and best practice. Benenden girls mentor John Wallis students at pivotal times in their school lives, such as when they are approaching exams.
Oakham School, Rutland has been working together with Catmose College and Uppingham Community College to sponsor Harington School, a new sixth form free school. As well as help from the Senior Leadership Team, Oakham supported Harington School’s science department with the development of new A-level courses. Oakham has also assisted in English teaching and helping students with applications in medicine for university. The Dragon School, Oxford chose to become the lead sponsor of the Blackbird Academy Trust, which incorporates three primary schools in Oxford (Pegasus School, Orchard Meadow and Windale). Two other organisations, Family Links and the Hamilton Trust, joined as co-sponsors of the trust.
Broadening sixth form teaching 8
ISC schools achieve excellent exam results in terms of both raw results and value-added. They also support subjects which are important but vulnerable in the state sector, such as modern foreign languages, Latin, Greek, music and physics. City of London Freemen’s School hosts an annual sixth form geography conference which includes numerous local and city schools. This gives pupils access to world class academics and experts from the world of geography to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the subject, as well as improve their grades and university prospects.
Westminster School supports Harris Westminster Academy through close collaboration between teachers and school leadership at all levels, incorporating parallel timetabling to create curriculum and teaching support. Westminster School also provides teachers for the Classics Academy which enables pupils with no access to Greek or Latin to take after school classes in these subjects.
Brighton College assisted by six independent schools, founded the London Academy of Excellence in Stratford in 2011. The Academy is for academic sixth-formers only and in 2016, 86% of pupils achieved A* to B grade A-levels. The value added was a remarkable 0.57. Twenty students received Oxbridge offers this year.
Canford School assists Oak Academy by offering a physics teacher to teach A-level students. This supports the school in an area where it is difficult to obtain specialist staff.
Assisting with university access and careers Numerous independent schools invite local state schools to their university entrance presentations, information evenings and also provide interview practice. This helps support state school pupils with university applications. IntoUniversity offers an innovative programme that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attain either a university place or another chosen aspiration. This was established by two Oxbridge Colleges who joined with Eton, Westminster, St Paul’s Girls’ and City of London schools, as well as a number of other charitable organisations. Norwich School co-ordinated the Norfolk University Access Summer programme which is designed to raise the aspirations of talented Year 12 students from over fifteen state schools. The programme gives pupils experience with subject tutorials and offers guidance about applying to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. Fifteen students on the course last year gained a place at Oxford or Cambridge. The Girls’ Schools Association (GSA) and Siemens have joined forces to bring the SeeWomen stem careers show to girls in state schools and GSA schools across the country. The live show features experiments and information about science and engineering and, so far, over 1,000 girls have benefitted. Sheffield High School launched the Cool to be Clever Club with The University of Sheffield and sixteen Sheffield South-East Learning Partnership (SSELP) schools. The initiative raises aspirations of gifted and talented primary school children by exposing them to careers and subjects they would otherwise have not experienced. Moreton Hall runs an advanced maths course and a biomedical course every summer. The courses are run in conjunction with Keele University and the University of Birmingham and offer students university level subject training, plus assistance with UCAS personal statements and careers guidance. Barnaby Lenon, ISC Chairman, has made a film which gives UCAS advice to state school pupils: www.parentsandteachers.org.uk/latest/blog/how-get-university
Extending academic partnerships Kings School, Canterbury works with ten primary schools to raise pupils’ attainment in science and improve science teaching amongst staff. Up to 57% of children receive pupil premium and 2,590 pupils and 106 teachers have participated. 99% of pupils felt their knowledge had improved in areas covered by the workshops.
The Southwark Community Education Council (SCEC) provides Saturday School tuition, entirely free, for over 150 children across the borough. The scheme is staffed by teachers and supported by pupils from the independent schools, who act as volunteer mentors. Dulwich College supports primary school children with enrichment classes to build confidence. It also helps their transition to senior schools through a focus on science-based activities, alongside English, maths, drama and ICT. James Allen’s Girls’ School offers literacy support and maths teaching to primary school pupils and Alleyn’s School provides maths teaching for gifted and talented Year 5 children.
99% of pupils felt their knowledge had improved in areas covered by the workshops.
Ballard School, Hampshire runs shared modern foreign language exchanges with Highcliffe School as well as a joint lecture series with three local schools.
Headington School, Oxford hosts events for state schools, including talks and sharing resources. Siemens showcased at the school’s ‘See Woman’ project, which highlighted women in STEM careers as role models for independent and state school pupils.
We are fortunate to have two “doctorate physics teachers, one of whose expertise and experience we are able to share with primary schools throughout Herefordshire.
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St Albans School, Hertfordshire has a long-standing partnership scheme involving fourteen local primary schools and fifteen members of staff together with more than half of the lower sixth year group. Specialist skills are shared: weekly masterclasses in ICT, D&T, science and drama are provided at St Albans School, and staff from the music, maths and French departments visit local schools.
Paul Smith, Headmaster Hereford Cathedral School
Dulwich College works with the Ogden Trust Scholarship Scheme to encourage the study of physics. College staff offer practical physics and chemistry, run biology trips and deliver INSET training sessions for non-specialist physics state school teachers. The educational charity Physics Partners is also supported by school staff and, in 2015-16, it provided training for four schools and the Harris Academy group.
The four state school pupils, who took the Classical Greek GCSE short course this year, achieved three A*s and one B.
St Mary’s School, Cambridge offers Classical Greek classes to pupils at a local comprehensive school. The four state school pupils who took the Classical Greek GCSE short course this year, achieved three A*s and one B. Malvern St James hosts an annual lecture series which has enabled local schools to gain an insight into subjects such as law and neuroscience. King’s College School, Wimbledon offered expertise and funding towards the establishment of King’s College Mathematics School. This is run in partnership with King’s College London University to provide high quality mathematics education.
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1,112 SCHO SCH ISC schools are increasingly forming partnerships with state schools through sharing facilities and expertise; 87% of schools are involved in such partnerships. There are a variety of ways in which 12
ISC schools are involved in partnerships with state schools, from sharing sports facilities to inviting pupils from state schools to attend
354
Share sports centre Swimming pool Other facilities
868 656
Host coaching sessions Events
70
music lessons. ISC schools view partnerships as having wide ranging benefits for pupils and teachers from both sectors.
288 Astroturf
55
Other
169 169
Prepare students Prepare students forfor higher education higher education
Second teachers Second teachers
97 97
124 124
Share classrooms Share classrooms
720 720
Host workshops Host workshops lessons events lessons oror events
585 585
Share knowledge Share knowledge skills and experience skills and experience
333 333
Improve teaching Improve teaching and learning and learning
70 70
Other Other
OOLS OOLS
ININPARTNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP WITH WITHSTATE STATE SCHOOLS SCHOOLS
Share concert hall 208 Theatre DRAMA D Dance studio
541
Host joint lessons Performances Events
100
Other
Second teachers
46
146 Academy sponsorship 119 Extra curricular activities 215 Art projects
Debating/public speaking
232
21 Second teachers 64 Other joint classes 490 Host Performances Events
236 Second pupils 239 Host exams 66 Combined Cadet Force 515 Governors at state schools 482 Other
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Widening participation in sport Many schools administer, host and provide staff for sporting events and activities with the state sector. 991 schools are in sporting partnerships with state schools. Norwich School runs the Young Norfolk Sports Academy for elite young athletes across the county. This provides local children with the opportunity to receive specialist teaching in a range of sports and also trains PE teachers at the local primary schools. Harrow School provides sports coaching for Year 5 pupils from a local school so that children can experience new sports such as Fives. Harrow boys organise an annual World Sports Day and the school also offers its grounds and facilities to schools in the area.
Millfield School, Somerset hosts the School Games for up to 6,000 children, spread over three events annually. This increases participation in sport and is supported by three Government Departments - Department for Education, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Department of Health - with funding from Sport England, through the National Lottery. The School Games underline this Government’s commitment to providing a new approach to competitive school sport designed to motivate and enthuse all young people.
“I would encourage all schools to take steps to engage fully with other schools and with the local community. Wider engagement can only benefit young people and the Schools Together initiative provides an inspiring forum to demonstrate what is possible and help develop the sharing of facilities between schools and across communities.
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Lord Moynihan, Minister for Sport 1987-1990
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Leweston School, Dorset runs a Modern Pentathlon Academy which gives children in the local area the opportunity to train in fencing, shooting, swimming and running. The club caters for all abilities from grass roots to a talent programme with children representing Great Britain in Pentathlon. The Academy organises events, held at Leweston, for schools in the local community. Trinty School, Essex is a small school with limited facilities, but shares the benefit of its parkland site which is suitable for cross country running. The school hosts the annual Brentwood District Schools Sports Association racing events.
Shrewsbury High Prep School runs a ‘Primary Schools Sports Outreach Programme’ to share their staff expertise, experience and facilities with local primary schools, by hosting a series of sporting tournaments in football, netball, cross country, orienteering, cricket and rounders, providing opportunities for local primary pupils to play sport.
Enriching extra-curricular activities Activities such as sports, music, drama, Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and the creative arts are strong in independent schools. Hereford Cathedral School is a senior partner in the Herefordshire Music Education Hub. The music department is opened to the public on Saturdays for providing lessons. There are annual concerts involving up to 24 schools from across the country. Whitgift School, Surrey has CCF partnerships with two local schools, benefitting over 50 participants.
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St Albans School, Hertfordshire has a partnership with the Marlborough Science Academy whereby cadets from Years 9 to 11 share the training provided by St Albans School CCF. The Grange School, Cheshire provides learning outdoors sessions for local primary school children to help them develop their team working skills, co-operation and problem-solving. Claires Court, Berkshire has given generations of children the opportunity to race sail at the weekend, through forging a partnership with Maidenhead Sailing Club. Claires Court pupils aged 8-18 are able to benefit from this, as well as other local school pupils, clubs and societies.
Magdalen College School, Oxford hosts an annual arts festival to promote access to cultural engagement programmes and involve young people in creative activities. In 2015, 2,000 external pupils were involved - either through participation in workshops, performances, competitions or exhibitions. In 2015 the festival worked with 250 artists, engaged with 2,200 active participants in workshops and tours, and received 16,000 visitors. Benenden School, Kent offers a free after school Mandarin Club for local primary schools. It also offers large scale educational events for schools across Kent and the South East, recent examples being the Women in Science and Engineering Conference and Chemistry at Work Day, attended by hundreds of pupils from state and independent schools.
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Sharing facilities Many ISC schools organise and host events, as well as offering their sports facilities, theatres and school buildings to local schools and the wider community. Hymers College, Hull was one of the first schools to be appointed an MCC Hub. Local state school cricketers receive free coaching at Hymers throughout the winter. This year 72 local cricketers have benefited from the Hub Scheme. Hymers College also hosted The Classics in the Park Concert last summer. This event attracted over 1,700 people and there are plans to increase the size of the audience for 2017, which will coincide with Hull being the UK City of Culture. Repton School, Derby shares its sports facilities and swimming pool with local schools and has supported the training of state school pupil, Olympic gold medallist, Adam Peaty.
is a real privilege for Repton to have “Itbeen able to support Adam Peaty’s achievement in some way by being able to facilitate his training. It undoubtedly proves what great opportunities for participation can be had at schools like Repton.
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Ian Pollock, Director of Sport at Repton School
Terrington Hall, York provides pupils at a local primary school with use of its playing fields and sports hall, for PE and games sessions on a weekly basis. This provides suitable sports facilities to children who might otherwise not be able to participate in PE due to the lack of space and facilities at their own school. Cheltenham College invites local youth groups to make use of the school’s indoor climbing wall - with a teacher at the College volunteering as an instructor. This is often the only opportunity for many young people to experience indoor climbing in a safe environment, as the cost of commercial indoor walls and instructors can be prohibitive. Manchester Grammar School invites primary school pupils from schools in Greater Manchester to visit the school for a day and enjoy access to all MGS’s musical resources and specialist music staff. Caterham School, Surrey offers their dark room to Sunnydown School, a local specialist school.
Contributing to teacher training Many independent schools share teaching expertise, observations, continuing professional development opportunities and good practice through partnerships with local state schools. •
The Independent Schools’ Teacher Induction Panel (IStip) is the largest provider of teacher induction, with over 1,050 NQTs
•
Five independent schools are teaching schools
•
Many independent schools are involved in Teaching School Alliances
MFL SCITT A group of independent schools have committed to setting up a national modern languages teacher training course, in partnership with Silverdale School and Sheffield Hallam University. There are also plans to create a physics SCITT (school-centred initial teacher training) later this year. Blundell’s School, Devon is a strategic partner in the West Country Teaching School Alliance (WCTSA). The partnership involves schools working together in three key areas: the provision of CPD, initial teacher training and school to school support. Leicester Grammar School works with Welland Park and Lutterworth High Schools to support and broaden the experience of trainee teachers. Ballard School, Hampshire works with two local secondary schools, Arnewood and Twynham, in teacher training.
Uppingham School’s ‘Uppingham Collegiate’ scheme, in collaboration with the David Ross Educational Trust, is a large Academy chain which comprises an annual programme of activities including teachers’ professional development and pastoral training. Belmont Grosvenor School, Yorkshire is the only independent school within the Dales Teaching Alliance. The partnership involves supporting schools in North Yorkshire and Bradford by providing CPD opportunities for staff and delivering the ITT School Direct Programme in partnership with York St John University. Sheffield High School are part of the Leading Outstanding Learning Programme (LoL), a CPD programme for teachers across South Yorkshire. Wisbech Grammar School, Cambridgeshire assist Marshland High School with teacher development, particularly offering teaching support for Academically Gifted and Talented (AGT) pupils.
Helping disadvantaged children to board In addition to ISC schools’ own bursary schemes, there are several charities that help independent schools find places for disadvantaged children in boarding schools. SpringBoard Bursary Foundation is a pioneering charity that works with independent schools to help source fully-funded places at boarding schools for disadvantaged pupils whose parents cannot afford the fees. The charity positively transforms the lives of pupils placed in boarding school. Impacts are being realised for pupils in four key areas:
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•
academic progress and attainment
•
raised aspirations, broadened horizons and enhanced future prospects
•
improved social skills and interactions and increased awareness of social diversity
•
increased confidence and well-being
The DfE with the Boarding Schools’ Association (an affiliate member of ISC), RNCF, Buttle UK, Reedham Children’s Trust and SpringBoard Bursary Foundation will be setting up a ‘Boarding School Partnerships’ online service to allow local authorities to place disadvantaged children in boarding schools. The four charities between them support 600 vulnerable children at 150 state and boarding schools across the UK. Some ISC schools also make a contribution towards RNCF. Rugby School established The Arnold Foundation in 2003 to deliver boarding bursaries to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Means-tested opportunities are offered to talented students with a need for boarding, alongside the funded day places available for students living within 10 miles of the school. Christ’s Hospital School, Sussex has pioneered social mobility in the independent education sector for almost five centuries, using income from its endowment and fundraising initiatives, to fund free and heavily supported boarding places for bright children from poorer backgrounds. Last year, the school’s bursary funding totalled £16.4million. 88% of children who entered into Year 7 in 2016 were from state primary schools. In terms of higher education, 44% of pupils on free school meals go on to Russell Group universities compared to 5% of these pupils in state-funded schools and 98% of CHS pupils go on to university.
Dulwich College is an example of a school that is highly receptive to working with external agencies in support of raising aspiration across both sectors, and has developed a successful partnership with the SpringBoard Bursary Foundation and its partner organisations, Eastside Young Leader’s Academy (EYLA) and Southside Young Leader’s Academy (SYLA). In September 2015, there were two fully-funded scholars in the sixth form and in September 2017 there will be a further three boarding places. This transforming and empowering educational experience helps prepare the pupils for a successful transition into higher education. Bede’s Senior School, Sussex is leading the Assisted Boarding for Looked After Children (AB for LAC) programme, which provides full bursaries to enable children in care to take up boarding places at the school. The programme benefits LAC who are resilient enough to thrive in a boarding environment. Bede’s currently provides places to five LAC and two young people have already completed their education. The school is also involved in outreach work with a number of LAC that are deemed unsuitable for boarding. This work includes delivering weekly drama workshops, working with the Foster Placement Support team to offer respite to carers through sports taster days and enrichment programmes and hosting the Children in Care Awards - all of which take place at Bede’s and are led by Bede’s staff.
44% of pupils on free school meals go on to Russell Group universities compared to 5% of these pupils in state-funded schools and 98% of CHS pupils go on to university. Christ’s Hospital School, Sussex
Schools as resources for the nation Some independent schools offer specialist educational provision, providing a resource for the nation. 22
Specialist schools ISC’s 2016 Census highlights the degree to which schools make specialist educational provision. There are 65,000 pupils at ISC schools identified with SEN. A small number of ISC schools cater wholly or mainly for statemented pupils and, in doing so, they provide essential specialist provision which can be hard to find in the state system. More House School, Surrey is the largest school in the country catering for children with language, literacy and social communication difficulties. Over 230 of the current students are placements from Local Authorities, saving them the cost of building and running their own specialist schools. The school offers special courses for teachers in mainstream schools who wish to learn more about special needs. More House supported and trained more than 100 teachers in the past year.
Music and dance schools State funding in independent schools is not a new idea. In the UK, £19.6 million per annum is provided by Government to fund dance and music schemes in nine independent music and dance schools. Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester • Receives the equivalent funding of 263 full places funded by the DfE music and dance scheme •
87.7% of its students are supported to some level by Government
•
90% of students receive financial support
•
Nearly 20% pay no fees at all
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“It is essential to bear one point above all in mind: independent schools vary so greatly in size, in income, in areas of particular expertise and much else besides, that uniform obligations in respect of partnership work could not be laid equitably upon them.” Lord Lexden OBE, President of the Independent Schools Association
“Whilst the children are benefitting from these experiences, their parents and members of staff are also developing a powerful growth mind-set; that there are more possibilities and more opportunities than before, building confidence and self-belief that in turn will realise aspirations.” Jessica Mair, Headteacher at John Betts Primary School, Hammersmith
“If we get it right, there is great benefit for state schools in partnering independent schools. State schools have a great deal to learn about areas such as broader education and strong higher education and careers support, for example. Of course, state schools equally have much to contribute to any state/independent schools partnership, such as innovative approaches to pedagogy.”
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Stephen Munday CBE, Vice Chairman of the Independent/State Schools Partnership forum and CEO The Cam Academy Trust
Challenging the myths about independent schools 1 “The pupils are rich” The average fee for a private day school is £13,500 a year; for half the schools the fees are less than that. A third of pupils have a fee reduction. The average independent school family is a middle-class dual income household where the salary of one parent is going to pay school fees. The typical independent school parent struggles to pay the fees and makes sacrifices to do so. Last year ISC schools alone spent £33 million on meanstested free places (100% bursaries) and an additional £31 million on means-tested fee reductions of over 75%. At Oxford University 30% of entrants in receipt of a bursary (students with a household income of £16,000 or less) were educated in private schools. 24
The ethnic make-up at ISC schools broadly mirrors that of all state schools, with 30% of pupils being from a minority ethnic background. In many cases independent schools are less socially selective than state schools. Sutton Trust research has regularly shown that the top-500-performing Academies, as well as most grammar schools, take fewer pupils on free school meals than independent schools have on big bursaries.
All figures within this booklet come from the ISC Annual Census 2016, unless otherwise stated: isc.co.uk/research/annual-census *Oxford Economics Report, 2014, The impact of independent schools on the British economy
2 “The schools are rich” The average size of an independent school in England is smaller than 400 pupils. Most are charities and make only a small surplus every year (see Charity Commission annual returns). Most do not have extensive grounds or facilities. Although the media tend to focus on large and famous boarding schools, these are not typical. Most private schools make little money and have smaller reserves than many state Academies. 3 “The pupils are the children of oligarchs” There are 3,200 Russian pupils out of the ISC total of 518,000. Looking at overall overseas numbers, there are 27,600 non-British pupils whose parents live abroad, 5.3% of the total. Many of these are at non-charitable international colleges where students contribute greatly to the local economy and go on to UK universities. 4 “They damage state schools” Most children educated in private schools are entitled to, but do not take up a place at, a state school. This saves the government £4 billion a year*, money which is thereby freed up to spend on the state sector. Many private schools are specialist schools – they are for pupils with special needs, music or dance schools, cathedral choir schools, schools for pupils of high ability, boarding schools, international schools. They are filling gaps left by state provision. Sutton Trust research has consistently shown that it is not independent schools that generate social division within education but state secondary schools – the top 500 of which are highly socially selective.
www.isc.co.uk 5 “It is crazy that they are charities and avoid VAT” ‘Education’ has been defined in law as a charitable purpose for many years. Fewer than half of independent schools are charities, but those which are have to conform with the requirements of the Charity Commission – they must ensure that their schools benefit those from the lowest incomes. They do this in two ways – by providing free places for children from low income homes and by running partnership projects with state schools. This year ISC schools are spending £370 million on means-tested bursaries and scholarships, most for children from low income homes. The contribution of independent schools to the UK, estimated by Oxford Economics at over £11 billion every year, far outstrips the £150 million they collectively receive in charitable benefits.
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 Affiliate 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
www.schoolstogether.org Celebrating and encouraging partnership projects Schools have been engaged in partnerships for many years. The main motivation is a desire to collaborate with other schools in the local community for mutual benefit. The Schools Together website demonstrates the excellent work that is already going on and helps and inspires more schools to get involved. Schools can register to add partnerships: www.schoolstogether.org/register Contact: team@schoolstogether.org
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